Press Release

Today, February 2, 2022, DFL Party Chairman, Ken Martin released the following statement on the Minnesota Republican Party’s statewide caucus results for governor:

“These results confirm that the same dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracy theories that have prolonged the pandemic will dominate the Republican primary for governor,” said Martin. “Scott Jensen has put lives in danger by repeatedly lying about the vaccine for his own political gain. His success last night underscores the fact that all the leading Republican candidates for governor put politics before the health and safety of Minnesotans.”

Last year, Jensen – who has said he is unvaccinated – sued to prevent children age 12-15 from receiving the vaccine, threatening our ability to keep Minnesota schools open. He was banned from TikTok for repeatedly using the platform to spread COVID misinformation. Jensen has also promoted Ivermectin and took it one step further in a now-viral video talking about the “scotch tape test” to check for worms.

Second-place finisher Paul Gazelka defended Jensen after a complaint was filed with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice against Jensen for giving reckless advice and spreading misinformation around COVID-19, saying “Of course I support Dr. Jensen and his medical expertise on COVID because he has proven to be right.”

Gazelka also infamously held a maskless superspreader event that led to a COVID outbreak among lawmakers. Senator Jerry Relph died from COVID complications following the event.