By Trendsetter Tribune 
Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel has abruptly ended his campaign for governor of Minnesota, delivering a rare and public break with his own party over federal immigration enforcement. In a video announcement, Madel said he could no longer support what he described as a strategy of “retribution” against Minnesotans tied to aggressive federal actions in the state.
Madel, a high-profile attorney who previously represented the ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good, called Operation Metro Surge an “unmitigated disaster.” While maintaining that he supports removing dangerous criminals, he warned that the operation has spread fear far beyond its stated goals, with U.S. citizens and immigrants alike being stopped or scrutinized based on appearance alone.
In a striking admission, Madel also acknowledged that national Republican leadership has made it nearly impossible for a GOP candidate to win statewide in Minnesota under the current approach. He pledged to refund all campaign donations, framing his withdrawal as a matter of principle rather than political calculation.
His exit marks a significant moment amid intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, signaling growing internal dissent within the GOP as public backlash mounts and the political fallout continues to spread.