It is no secret that Minnesota Republicans have been increasingly struggling to gain support in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Democrats have gained such a strong advantage in the urban core that they can effectively ignore the majority of the state and still win statewide elections. If we don’t bring in new voters to the Republican Party and start moving the needle, we will find ourselves unable to win statewide elections for a very long time.
But there is hope yet, as the rise of Ilhan Omar and her toxic brand of socialist politics has led many longtime Democrat and Independent voters to question their allegiances.
In 2020 we have a real opportunity to move the needle in Minneapolis with Republican Lacy Johnson running for Congress in the 5th District. Johnson has lived in North Minneapolis for over 40 years. He has been married to his wife Betty for 40 years, and together they raise two sons Darien and Adrian.
Lacy Johnson is exactly the kind of candidate Republicans in the 5th district should be excited about. He is well known in the community, he knows the issues that are important, and he will work tirelessly to bring new voters into the Republican Party.
Furthermore, Lacy Johnson has proved he can raise significant money, which has been a problem Republicans have had in the 5th district for years. To date, Johnson has raised almost half a million dollars. Setting a Republican record in the district, with eight months until the election.
To permanently bring new voters into the Minnesota Republican Party, we need a candidate who is invested in our communities. We won’t be able to bring in voters who have largely voted Democrat in Minneapolis for decades, with a candidate that doesn’t have roots in Minnesota.
To convert voters who have long been skeptical about the Republican Party, we need a candidate like Lacy Johnson. Having a candidate like Johnson as the messenger for the Republican Party has much bigger implications than the 5th District race. It has the potential to redefine the political narrative in the urban core and give Republicans a better chance to win statewide elections.
We have to think long-term. Just because a candidate seems popular in the moment does not mean that they are the best option to bring new voters into the Minnesota Republican Party.
We have to build trust with voters in the 5th District, and to do that we need Lacy Johnson, who has lived in North Minneapolis for over 40 years. He has the community connections needed to move the needle for Republicans, he can raise money, and he will work tirelessly for every vote.
Republicans in the 5th District, come out and support Lacy Johnson at the caucus on February 25th. Run to become a delegate, join our campaign team, and help Lacy Johnson move the needle so that Republicans can start winning again in Minnesota.
As Nate Silver said, “Just 20 percent African-American support for Trump would all but tear down Democratic-party presidential hopes for 2020.”
Anton Lazzaro
Anton (Tony) Lazzaro is the founder and Director of Big Tent Republicans PAC, a unique group dedicated to broadening the appeal of the Republican Party.
