Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidate Blames Democratic Leadership for Escalating Church Disruptions and Immigration Protests

Republican gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls has accused Minnesota’s Democratic leadership of orchestrating a surge in protests linked to immigration enforcement, which he claims are being amplified beyond the state through “organized agitation.”

In remarks on a national platform, Qualls described recent demonstrations as “not protesting” but rather efforts by groups to “instigate something with federal officers.” He specifically highlighted disruptions at Cities Church in St. Paul, where protesters allegedly stormed the facility, halted worship services, and violated attendees. Qualls cited Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement of arrests—including former CNN anchor Don Lemon—as evidence that these incidents transcend typical protest activity.

Qualls characterized the church disruption as “the most disgusting thing I’ve seen in my lifetime” regarding targeted attacks on Christians during worship. He contrasted Minnesota with other Democratic-led states, noting such unrest does not occur in Illinois or Michigan. The candidate attributed the crisis to a “crisis of leadership” involving state officials, including Minneapolis and St. Paul’s mayor and governor.

When asked about federal efforts to address tensions, Qualls praised border official Tom Homan for his coordination with President Donald Trump on reducing ICE presence in Minnesota. He described Homan as having decades of experience managing such crises. Qualls also referenced Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek re-election and criticized Democratic candidates for allegedly being tainted by fraud allegations, suggesting the party lacks qualified leadership. The comments followed Senate Majority Leader Amy Klobuchar’s announcement of a gubernatorial run, which Qualls dismissed as “fluff.”