Minnesota governor candidates spar over Trump in GOP debate

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Republican gubernatorial candidates Tim Pawlenty and Jeff Johnson spent their first public debate Friday arguing over Pawlenty’s two previous terms as Minnesota governor and who insulted President Donald Trump worse in the run-up to the 2016 election.

The two candidates laid out few policy differences during a nearly hour-long debate hosted by Minnesota Public Radio News, differing largely on style rather than substance. Both vowed to eliminate the state’s taxes on Social Security income — a popular topic among Minnesota Republicans — if elected, and voiced their support for Trump’s moves to cut federal taxes and curtail illegal immigration.

But they clashed while rehashing the 2016 election and their support of the President. Pawlenty called Trump “unhinged and unfit for office” weeks ahead of Election Day, a remark that has loomed over Pawlenty’s pursuit for his old job since before entering the race in early April.

Pawlenty countered that Johnson had once publicly referred to Trump as a “jackass,” and that he still voted for Trump. Johnson said he regretted his word choice but still supported Trump over Clinton at the time.

“I supported him. You told people not to vote for him,” Johnson said.

It underlines Trump’s omnipresence in Republican politics as the midterm elections approach, even in traditionally Democratic states such as Minnesota.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is leaving office after two terms, triggering a wide-open race to replace him.