Paul Gazelka in 2022 MN Governor's race
On Principles & Values:
Driven by his Christian faith, fought same sex marriage
An insurance salesman who is largely driven by his Christian faith, Gazelka led the push for a failed constitutional amendment in 2012 to ban same-sex marriage.
He rose to leadership after Republicans took control of the Senate in 2016, the same year Donald Trump was elected president.
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune on 2022 Minnesota Governor race
Sep 8, 2021
On Abortion:
Pro-life, might support Texas-style abortion ban
He highlighted his faith and touted his record opposing abortion in announcing his run for governor. Gazelka signaled support for a Texas-style abortion ban but would not pledge to sign a similar law if it landed on his desk as governor. "Every bill
I have to see. I don't make commitments that directly, other than to say I'm pro-life," he said. "My whole record shows that I'm pro-life, so it would follow down that path."
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune on 2022 Minnesota Governor race
Sep 8, 2021
On Crime:
Provide more resources to have more police on the streets
I would provide more resources to have more police on the streets. If Minneapolis doesn't do it, I would put more money into Hennepin County, if they would be willing to. That was something that we worked on. I would work with the
Highway Patrol to use them in whatever way they thought was best to provide safety, because the governor can do that. And there are places that maybe the National Guard needs to help as well.
Source: Grand Forks Herald on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Sep 28, 2021
On Environment:
Opposed new mercury pollution standards from EPA
Gazelka criticized Bishop for asking the federal government to implement new standards for mercury emissions by the taconite industry, which the Environmental Protection Agency had put off for 30 years.
While the MPCA said the standards would help protect people from harmful effects of mercury pollution, Gazelka said he felt it would hurt mining companies.
Source: MinnPost.com on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Jul 7, 2021
On Government Reform:
2020 election not fair; need election reforms
All five Republican gubernatorial hopefuls were asked the same first question during the debate: "In your opinion, did President Biden win a constitutional majority in the electoral college?"
Not a single candidate expressed confidence in the long-certified results. Paul Gazelka said, "I don't think the election was fair, but I do think we have the results that we have and the electoral college is the way that we determine the election,"
said the former Senate majority leader, who won re-election himself in 2020 but has not questioned the results. Gazelka added he is "not a big fan of how it all played out" and called for election reforms.
None of the candidates specifically explained which states' results they believe weren't valid.
Source: Bring Me the News blog on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Dec 16, 2021
On Health Care:
MinnesotaCare would decimate rural hospitals & doctors
Gazelka expressed concerns about the impact on rural hospitals because programs like MinnesotaCare have a lower reimbursement rate than commercial insurers. "We think that would totally decimate the rural hospitals, rural doctors," he said. "I've heard
from a number of rural hospitals and doctors that that would be the worst thing that they could possibly have. Doctors have told me that if wouldn't even be worth it for them to be in Minnesota."
Source: Minnesota Public Radio on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Feb 21, 2019
On Immigration:
Huge mistake to reward illegal immigration
Q: Gov. Tim Pawlenty sent Minnesota National Guard troops to shore up the border with Mexico when he led the state. Would you as governor?
A: Absolutely. We should be supporting all the legal immigration that we can handle. But if you reward illegal immigration and let people just run through the border, that's a huge mistake.
Source: Grand Forks Herald on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Sep 28, 2021
On Principles & Values:
2020 election was unfair, but Biden won
HUGH HEWITT, DEBATE MODERATOR: In your opinion, did President Biden win the constitutional majority of the electoral college?
DR. SCOTT JENSEN: I can`t know what I don`t know. And I think we have to take that attitude towards 2020.
MAYOR MIKE MURPHY: I do believe there was voter fraud at a massive scale across this country.
STATE SEN. PAUL GAZELKA: I don`t think the election was fair, but I do think we have the results that we have. The electoral college is the way that we determine the election.
STATE SEN. MICHELLE BENSON: The more we watch, the less they cheat.
Source: MSNBC on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial debate
Sep 21, 2021
On Social Security:
Taxes on Social Security income drives seniors away
Gazelka said there were several factors building up to a workforce shortage in Minnesota, including young college graduates not staying in the state, taxes on social security income driving seniors away, and Minnesota's welfare benefits being
better than in surrounding states. Mandating certain industries to vaccinate employees for COVID-19 would also drive workers away, he said.
Source: Marshall Independent on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Nov 10, 2021
On Welfare & Poverty:
We need to relook at how we do welfare, require work
We already know that there's this workforce shortage that has been coming. But it's clear the only thing that has changed that made this dramatic shift is COVID, how we've responded to it, the unemployment benefits and all that. And so we need to relook
at how we do welfare. Anybody that can work needs to be working in some fashion, not just for their own livelihood but for the good of the entire state.
Source: Grand Forks Herald on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Sep 28, 2021
Page last updated: Aug 18, 2024