Paul Gazelka

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GOP attorney general candidate Jim Schultz leaves the stage with his wife Molly and their children during the first day of the Minnesota State Republican Convention, Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Mayo Civic Center in. Rochester, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Race is tight as Minnesota GOP picks candidate for governor

By Steve Karnowski - Associated Press

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., accompanied by his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders, arrives for a primary night election rally as the crowd cheers in Essex Junction, Vt., Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Minnesota Senate GOP to block most policing overhaul plans

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, center right, listens in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, June 8, 2020, as artist Seito Jones, right talked about his stencil of George Floyd that is free for download by anyone. Walz took a walking tour of some of the artworks commissioned by Springboard for the Arts along University Avenue. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)

Minnesota governor asks lawmakers for justice after Floyd

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Legislature locked in negotiations as session deadline looms

Associated Press

FILE - In an April 30, 2020 file photo, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz answers questions while holding his mask at a news conference inside the Department of Public Safety in St. Paul, Minn. Walz said Wednesday, May 13, 2020 he will let his stay-at-home order expire as scheduled Monday, though he’ll leave key restrictions in place to keep up Minnesota’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, Pool, File)

2020 session will go down as one of Minnesota’s strangest

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Rory Marino, Khloe Larsdatter, and Rachel Robles, from left, toss toilet paper to the small crowed gathered on the sidewalk outside Muddy Waters restaurant Sunday, May 3, 2020. &quot;We ran out of food. We ran out of everything else, but we had toilet paper!,&quot; said Robles. The owners announced Saturday the closure of the restaurant, which had been offering takeout during the coronavirus pandemic. (Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP)

Pressure builds to allow more Minnesota businesses to reopen

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, from left, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Gov. Tim Walz, House Assistant Deputy Minority Leader Anne Neu and Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent gather for a forum with media at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. (Scott Takushi/Pioneer Press via AP)

Top Minnesota Republican optimistic about keeping majority

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Walz orders prep for legal pot; top Republican says hang on

Associated Press

Republican Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka poses Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in St. Paul, Minn., after switching his attire from suits to jeans now that that the Minnesota Legislature's 2019 regular and special sessions are over. Gazelka said in an interview at the state Capitol that he expects legislation to help make emergency insulin supplies more affordable for diabetics who lack adequate insurance, which failed to make it across this finish line in last week's special session, will return next year. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Top Senate Republican expects insulin bill to return in 2020

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Excerpts from recent Minnesota editorials

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

Democratic Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, left, and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, right, speak to reporters above the House chamber in the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. on the opening day of a special session to finish work on the state's $48 billion two-year budget, Friday, May 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Minnesota Legislature passes $48B budget in special session

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

The sun breaks through the clouds over the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, May 23, 2019. Gov. Tim Walz and top legislative leaders reached agreement Thursday on the last of their major budget bills, leaving lawmakers waiting on the governor to call a special session to finish their work for the year. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

As special session convenes, House Democrats look to 2020

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Students from Century Middle School in Lakeville, Minn., gather on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. on Friday, May 17, 2019, while top lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz kept trying to resolve the state's budget impasse before the Legislature's mandatory adjournment Monday night. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

The Latest: Governor signs bill to fight opioid epidemic

Associated Press

Gov. Tim Walz, center, with Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, right, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, gestures at a news conference as he was announcing a budget deal in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, May 19, 2019. Walz and top legislative leaders reached a bipartisan budget deal Sunday in which the governor dropped his proposed gas tax increase but got to keep most of an expiring tax that helps fund health care programs, Republicans got an income tax cut for middle-class Minnesotans and both sides claimed credit for additional spending on education. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Legislators finalize big bills, plan for special session

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Gov. Tim Walz, center, with Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, right, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, gestures at a news conference as he was announcing a budget deal in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, May 19, 2019. Walz and top legislative leaders reached a bipartisan budget deal Sunday in which the governor dropped his proposed gas tax increase but got to keep most of an expiring tax that helps fund health care programs, Republicans got an income tax cut for middle-class Minnesotans and both sides claimed credit for additional spending on education. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

The Latest: Legislative negotiators agree on opioid bill

Associated Press

Republican Minnesota State Sen. Roger Chamberlain speaks at a news conference on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol with his fellow GOP senators after the Senate passed his bill for preventing a state government shutdown if the Legislature's budget stalemate persists, Saturday, May 18, 2019 in St. Paul, Minn.. The move threw down a challenge to House Democrats and Gov. Tim Walz to either agree or take the blame for a shutdown when the current budget expires June 30. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Democrats, Republicans win some, lose some in budget deal

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Republican Minnesota State Sen. Roger Chamberlain speaks at a news conference on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol with his fellow GOP senators after the Senate passed his bill for preventing a state government shutdown if the Legislature's budget stalemate persists, Saturday, May 18, 2019 in St. Paul, Minn.. The move threw down a challenge to House Democrats and Gov. Tim Walz to either agree or take the blame for a shutdown when the current budget expires June 30. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

The Latest: Minnesota leaders unveil bipartisan budget deal

Associated Press

Republican Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka walks past reporters on his way into budget talks with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman at the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Gun control measures fail as budget deal remains elusive

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Governor, legislative leaders work to set budget targets

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, center, holds a news conference with health care executives from across the state at the Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday, May 2, 2019, to stress the urgency of preserving a tax on health care providers that helps fund health care programs. Republicans want to let the tax expire as scheduled at the end of the year. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Lawmakers, governor get down to hardest work of session

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press