A second challenger to Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Keith Downey has emerged, as the party prepares to elect its leadership Saturday in Bloomington.
Party activist Neil Lynch, chairman of the Minnesota chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus, says he’ll run for the office.
In a statement, Lynch said:
“The Republican Party of Minnesota is at a crossroads. We’re hampered by debt, we continue to lose statewide elections, and member morale is at an all-time low…It’s easy to point fingers and blame individuals, but the fact is our party has been in decline for some time.”
Earlier, Bill Jungbauer had announced a challenge, saying he objected to Downey’s leadership style. Jungbauer recently stepped down as the party’s Second Congressional District Chair, and said, when announcing for the party chair position: “This is a grass roots party. It belongs to the people. I believe he [Downey] is using the chairmanship as a vehicle for his own run for governor.”
Downey, a former state representative, is seeking a second two-year term as chair.
