Minnesota GOP candidate ends bid for governor, decries 'retribution' on state
Chris Madel, a Republican candidate running for Minnesota governor, announced on Monday that he is withdrawing his election bid, saying in a video on social media that he "cannot support the national Republican-stated retribution" on residents of Minnesota.
Madel blasted current ICE actions in the state -- specifically calling out the fear ICE operations have inflicted on U.S. citizens in Minnesota while also calling Operation Metro Surge an "unmitigated disaster."

His announcement came following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a Customs and Border Protection agent on Saturday, although he did not mention Pretti by name.
Madel, who has never held elected office, joined a crowded GOP gubernatorial race in December 2025. He said that all the money raised for his campaign with be refunded to supporters who donated.
This post has been updated to correct the affiliation of the officers involved in the shooting.
-ABC News' Tierra Cunningham







