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Scott Jensen wins Minnesota GOP gubernatorial straw poll

Former state Sen. Scott Jensen has won the Republican Party’s latest gubernatorial straw poll, garnering support of 38% of activists who participated in Tuesday’s precinct caucuses.

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  • results posted online showed Sen. Paul Gazelka finishing second with 14%. Dermatologist Neil Shah held a narrow lead for third, with 92% of precincts reporting.

why it matters: The results provide a snapshot of where core GOP activists stand with less than four months to go until a May endorsing convention.

  • Most, if not all, candidates will drop out without the endorsement, leaving the victor to cruise to the nomination.

Yes, but: The straw poll winner hasn’t always gone on to win delegates’ backing.

The big picture: The GOP field of candidates vying to challenge DFL Gov. Tim Walz in November remains large — a half dozen candidates participated last night —and unsettled.

  • The latest entrant in the race, former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, announced his campaign hours before caucuses began.

Plus: Candidates also need enough cash to make it through the convention.

go deeper on campaign finance filings via MinnPost.

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