Scott Jensen Touts Extreme Plans and Dangerous Conspiracy Theories

Redwood County, MN - Today, during the FarmFest Governor Candidates Forum, Republican Scott Jensen spread dangerous misinformation about COVID-19, including the use of unproven Ivermectin. He also confirmed his plan to gut funding for early childhood, K-12, and higher education programs while giving tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthy.

“Once again, Scott Jensen confirmed his extreme plans to decimate our public schools and put corporate profits over the needs of Minnesota families, and promoted reckless misinformation about COVID-19,” said Marissa Luna, executive director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota. “Scott Jensen threatens to bring extreme policies to our state that are wildly out of touch with the needs of Minnesotans and dangerous for our families, schools, and communities. Minnesotans deserve far better than Scott Jensen.”

Following the debate, Scott Jensen said it's “not a problem at all” that he got banned from social media for spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scott Jensen was investigated by the Minnesota state medical board for spreading COVID-19 conspiracy theories and giving reckless medical advice.

And in June 2022, Scott Jensen threatened the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice with political retaliation for their investigation if elected governor.

In December 2020, Kaiser Health News called Scott Jensen’s COVID-19 comments the “Lie of the Year.” That same month, the Washington Post also fact-checked Jensen’s lies.

In a 2020 Star Tribune story, the director of medical ethics at New York University’s school of medicine called Jensen’s COVID-19 comments problematic and politically driven.

In 2021, Scott Jensen joined a group of right-wing doctors trying to block the use of the COVID vaccine in 12 to 15-year-olds.

As a Minnesota State Senator, Jensen voted to underfund Minnesota schools and reduce access to pre-K for Minnesota’s youngest learners.

And Scott Jensen voted to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Minnesotans and big tobacco companies at the expense of our schools.

In May 2022, when asked by MPR, “Do you support more money for public schools or less money?” Jensen replied, “Less money,” confirming his plan to defund public education.