Trump still a force, factor in Minnesota GOP politics
Republican operatives, activists say there remains little upside inside the party to criticize Trump.
March 8, 2021 — 11:52am
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Donald Trump is gone from the White House, but his influence over the hearts and minds of his strongest supporters remains a potent political force in Minnesota's Republican Party.
"I think he's still the top player in the party," said Billy Grant, a Minnesota-based GOP campaign strategist. "Anyone who is anti-Trump is not going to be winning anything significant in the Republican Party any time soon."
Trump left office in January under the cloud of his false claims of an election rigged against him and the ensuing deadly protest by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. A small splinter of congressional Republicans joined Democrats in votes to impeach and convict Trump for inciting the riot.