Several Republican candidates responded to the recently announced COVID vaccine mandates in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The mandates will go into effect on Wednesday, requiring restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and any other place of “public accommodation” where food or drink is served to only allow vaccinated patrons inside.
A candidate for Minnesota attorney general Jim Schultz said in a press release obtained by The Minnesota Sun that, “The newest governmental vaccine mandates in Minneapolis and St. Paul are both unfair and foolish. They are unfair because Minneapolis and St. Paul businesses–already suffocating due to other arbitrary and unlawful governmental actions–are now at a disadvantage to businesses in other communities. They are foolish because at this stage of the pandemic exactly zero people will elect to get vaccinated as a result of the mandates.”
All six of the Republican candidates for governor also had something to say about the new requirements.
Dr. Scott Jensen shared his response to the mandates on Twitter, “In a Jensen administration, Minneapolis [and] St. Paul wouldn’t be able to do what they did today. Health freedom must be valued! Children are the ones who will suffer the long-term effects of this permanent, political decision making. It’s a tragedy – and we have to reverse course.”
In a Jensen administration, Minneapolis & St. Paul wouldn’t be able to do what they did today. Health freedom must be valued!
Children are the ones who will suffer the long-term effects of this permanent, political decision making. It’s a tragedy – and we have to reverse course!
— Scott Jensen (@drscottjensen) January 13, 2022
Dr. Neil Shah also ripped into the mandates in a press release to The Sun.
“This is abhorrent, criminal, out of touch, anti-science, and unacceptable on every level,” he said.
Kendall Qualls, a recently announced gubernatorial candidate, shared his disagreement with the actions of the Minneapolis and St. Paul mayors.
“Our businesses and economy have suffered enough from the shutdowns- government overreach of this magnitude has NO place in Minnesota! Leaders demanding 5 year olds show proof of vaccination or a negative test is absolute INSANITY,” Qualls said.
Mike Murphy, another candidate for governor and the mayor of Lexington, Minnesota, said “Democrats are killing small businesses, mom [and] pop, and Main Street values.”
He also said he will introduce a “Health Freedom Resolution” to his city council members.
Democrats are killing small businesses, mom & pop, and Main Street values.
I will be introducing a “Health Freedom Resolution” to my City Council, protecting my community from Tyranny. As governor, I will defend our entire state. #Minnesota #MnGovhttps://t.co/nE5sEkmsnW
— Mike Murphy (@MikeMurphyForMN) January 13, 2022
Senator Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) said Minneapolis and St. Paul have “gone too far.”
Gazelka said, “The science shows the folly of this. But if you don’t believe science, just ask Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, or Secretary of State Steve Simon, all of whom tested positive, despite being fully vaccinated [and] boosted.”
(1/3) Minneapolis and St. Paul have gone too far. This will only hurt the small businesses struggling to survive after Walz’s devastating lockdowns of 2020. #MNGovhttps://t.co/aJdlC9BYfu
— Paul Gazelka (@paulgazelka) January 12, 2022
Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake) called the mandate “a bad idea.”
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jim Schultz” by Jim Schultz For Minnesota Attorney General. Photo “Neil Shah” by Dr. Neil Shah.
