Unraveling the Democratic Process, Republican Party Chair Continues Election Interference

MNGOP Chair David Hann unilaterally removes over 100 Otter Tail delegates recently elected during the State governed precinct caucus.

FERGUS FALLS, MN - In a scathing letter to Otter Tail County Republicans dated March 5, 2024, MNGOP Chair David Hann detailed a manufactured laundry list of wrongdoings in which he justified the disposal of newly elected precinct delegates.

One such wrongdoing listed in the 5-page letter was that as the nominees were waiting in the polling location to vote, and due to “how loud and chaotic” the meetings were, the delegates did not complete elections before “the window permitted by state statute closed.”

According to attorney Susan Shogren-Smith, “State statute does not require caucus elections to be completed by a deadline. It is peculiar to suggest voters standing in line at the polls at 8pm be prohibited from casting a ballot.”

In David Hann's opinion, “We [MNGOP] are a private political association, and we have the right and authority to conduct our internal party procedures and to affiliate with those who choose to abide by those rules and procedures.”

However, grassroots Republicans in Otter Tail County threw shade on the motivation of Hann’s executive order, as they “mobilized over 300 delegates” to participate in the County’s February 27, 2024 caucus due to repeated disenfranchisement in 2022 and 2023.

Regarding the alleged election tampering, former Republican Party State Executive Officer for the 7th Congressional District, Bill Nichol, was recorded saying, “We’re going to have to disagree on the process of this. I agree with you, but for right now winning is more important than having a perfect election.”

After being disenfranchised in 2022, Otter Tail resident Merle Hexum views the executive actions as corrupt, “Unfortunately political Parties are private organizations, and they can choose whether to obey their own Constitution or not. There is no governing authority to hold them accountable or force them to do the right thing. This leaves us with only one course of action, which is to inform the public and allow them to decide for themselves as to whether or not they're able to condone and support such corruption.”

In March 2023, more than thirty duly-elected delegates were suspended and prohibited from voting in Otter Tail Republican elections. Delegates believe the suspensions were politically motivated by establishment-friendly MNGOP operatives afraid of losing power to the grassroots voters.

A new State law in effect allows any person or entity to challenge party certification for non-compliance with the party's constitution and rules, or violations of specific election law.

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