MINNEAPOLIS — Former President Donald Trump will be the headliner for the Minnesota Republican Party's annual Lincoln Reagan dinner this year.
The visit is expected to be the former president's first trip to Minnesota of the 2024 election cycle.
“We are thrilled to welcome President Trump back to Minnesota to headline our Lincoln Reagan dinner, an annual tradition that reminds us of the roots of our Party and the leaders who have been most impactful in promoting our American values. I can think of no one more fitting to join us this year than President Trump,” Minnesota GOP chair David Hann said in a released statement.
The Minnesota GOP's announcement did not include specific details, but the event is expected next week as the Minnesota GOP holds its annual convention in St. Paul starting on May 17.
“I could not be more excited to host President Trump and officially kick off our 2024 campaign,” said House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, who will co-host the event. “Joe Biden’s failed policies are showing Minnesotans each day that President Trump is the only choice to lead our country forward. Let’s put America First and win in November.”
Minnesota Democrats were quick to downplay the ex-president's visit.
“By doubling down on Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda, Minnesota Republicans are tying their fate to his in November," Minnesota DFL chair Ken Martin said in a statement. "Minnesota voters have repeatedly rejected Donald Trump and his efforts to ban abortion, take away their health insurance, and attack our democracy. Republicans up and down the ballot will have to answer for why they are abandoning Minnesota values and kissing Donald Trump’s ring.”
Trump lost Minnesota to President Joe Biden in 2020 by seven percentage points. However, at an event over the weekend, Trump campaign officials told Republican donors that Minnesota was among the states "in play" for 2024, NBC News reported.
Minnesota has the longest Democratic winning streak in presidential elections dating back to the 1970s.
Watch more Minnesota politics:
Watch the latest political coverage from the Land of 10,000 Lakes in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.