What Does a Candidate Need to Win in the First District?
This is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Republicans, but the fact remains that defeating a two-term incumbent is no walk in the park. Victory in November will be contingent upon many factors, but right now, as delegates, the focus must be on selecting the right candidates to fill offices from local state races to Congressional races and through to the Governor’s race at the top of the ticket. Ultimately, delegates are looking for one thing: someone who can win. Whatever one’s qualifications as a candidate, you cannot deliver results if you never actually cast a vote in Congress. To win, that candidate must be committed: committed to his community and the people of the First District; committed to fighting for the conservative values and principles that built this great nation; committed to running an honest and issues-based campaign that we can be proud of; committed to private sector job creation and economic growth; and committed to putting forth the effort and the resources needed to win.
So, who is our best and strongest candidate? Read on to find out...
Which candidate has demonstrated the strongest commitment to service to the people and communities of the First District?
Answer: Randy Demmer.
As a lifelong resident of Hayfield and an active participant in his community, Randy understands the people, the challenges, and the opportunities we have here in Southern Minnesota. Over the years he has served on community boards and task forces, the local Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority, on his church council, and as a school board member. Randy knows that it’s the people – not the government– that make this country great. Every day, Randy works on behalf of his constituents as a State Representative and Assistant Republican House Leader. This experience and commitment to his district and our state is why Randy has the support of other Republican leaders up and down the ticket; leaders that value his service in the Minnesota House, and look to him take that same principled, experienced leadership to Washington.
Which candidate has demonstrated his commitment to standing up for conservative values and finding common-sense, practical solutions to the problems facing our nation?
Answer: Randy Demmer.
It’s one thing to talk about conservative values, and another to actually demonstrate them. Randy is the only candidate in the race with a rock-solid and current voting record on the issues that matter today: opposition to the expansion of government and increased taxes; commitment to the right to life and traditional family values; and a deep-rooted faith in individual responsibility and personal freedom that are enshrined in the Constitution. He has served eight years during good economic times and in bad; with budget surpluses and deficits; in the majority and in the minority; through it all, his votes have been consistent and dependable. We need a candidate who, like Randy, can turn rhetoric into action, who has the perspective and understanding to examine complicated and difficult issues, and support solutions that reflect the conservative ideals and principles upon which this country was built.
Which candidate will run - and has always run – positive issue-based campaigns that help restore the public’s faith in our elected officials?
Answer: Randy Demmer.
Some may see an honest and positive campaign as soft, as not hard-line enough, or as “compromising”, but they are wrong. There are enough Washington-style politicians in Washington already, who think the only way they can win is by tearing others down; that victory can only be achieved by “going negative”. As Minnesotans, we know better, and we deserve better. Unlike other candidates who have resorted to desperate character attacks, Randy Demmer won’t distort motives and misrepresent positions in order to score cheap political points. If you have a question, you’ll get an honest response; a comment or concern, you’ll have an ear to listen; a problem, help to find a solution. Republican candidates are excited about sharing the ticket with Randy, and are enthusiastically supporting him. We have not and will not see any ill-advised comments that become liabilities in the general election nor broadcast in fundraising campaigns from our opponents.
Which candidate has the background and experience to be truly representative of a diverse District of regional centers, small towns, agriculture, small and large businesses, and the job opportunities and economic challenges they represent?
Answer: Randy Demmer.
Randy Demmer has been a business owner and farmer in this district his entire life. As the founder, owner and operator of three successful small businesses, he has made investments in his local communities that have resulted in new jobs and new economic opportunities. He understands what it means to risk your own resources, to worry about payroll and providing jobs for your employees, to live day to day with the risk of failure, and to work hard day in and day out figuring out how to make your businesses and communities better. As a corn and soybean farmer of over 1800 acres, he knows agriculture, both the business and the people. He has developed relationships with and worked hard on behalf of the people that work in our agriculture industry such as crop producers, livestock and dairy farmers, and added value agriculture based innovators and businesses. They are a vital part of the economy and security of our state and nation. Neither our current representation nor other candidates can draw on the same wealth of experience and connections.
Which candidate has shown he is committed to giving his campaign the resources, leadership, and effort needed to unseat a two-term incumbent?
Answer: Randy Demmer.
Three years ago, in a very different and much more challenging electoral environment, Randy Demmer was one of the first to stand up and volunteer to serve his country as a candidate for Congress. He started his campaign not because it was a good year to run, but because he knew then, as we can all see now, that Tim Walz is not the right person to represent this District. As a big-government, big-spending liberal disguised as a moderate, Tim Walz’ unwavering support of Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda threatens the success and security of families and businesses across the nation, and they are dragging our nation down an unsustainable and risky path. Now, as the political winds have shifted, more candidates have jumped in. Still,there is no one else in the race – on either side of the aisle – who has the combination of experience, resources, commitment to service, and the rock-solid conservative voting record that Randy does.
This winter and early spring, while honoring his legislative commitments in St. Paul, Randy has been meeting with delegates and contributors to secure the votes and money that he needs to run a strong campaign. And, just as any business owner combines his own time, money, and efforts with those of others, Randy has invested in this cause. He has committed substantial resources to his own campaign to make sure it has the resources and materials to win. With a strong and experienced staff, an aggressive campaign schedule, and a grassroots team already in place across Southern Minnesota, Randy has built the foundation for a strong general election campaign, and is poised to defeat Tim Walz this November.
The choice is clear: we need Randy Demmer as our endorsed candidate – and more importantly, we need him as our next Congressman.