>> ERIC: REPUBLICANS IN RURAL MINNESOTA FLOCKED TO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE ON A COLD SNOWY NIGHT TO SEE MANY CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DEBATE.

THE ISSUES.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAD THE ONLY TV CREW THAT HIT THE ROAD TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO STOP GOVERNOR WALZ FROM GETTING A THIRD TERM.

>> THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY EXCITING YEAR.

WE NEED TO TURN THIS STATE RED.

AND THIS IS -- THIS IS THE BEGINNING.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS IN RURAL RED MARSHALL, MINNESOTA, WERE RARING TO GO.

>> WE HAVE ALL THE MONEY TO BEAT TIM WALZ IN NOVEMBER.

THE BAD NEWS IS, IT'S STILL IN YOUR POCKETS.

>> Mary: BEATING GOVERNOR WALZ WAS THE TARGET IN AN AUCTION THAT ANIMATED THE CROWD.

>> 35, 35 -- >> Mary: THE MAIN EVENT WAS THE NINE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR SQUARING OFF.

>> I HAVE BEAT GOVERNOR WALZ AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

>> I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE CAN GET MINNESOTA BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND MINNESOTA CAN PROSPER FOR EVERYONE.

SO I WILL STOP THE FRAUD.

>> Mary: CURRENT STATE LAWMAKERS ARE WELL KNOWN, BUT THERE ARE FRESH FACES IN THE RACE.

>> I'M A COUNTER-TERRORISM AND FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST.

>> THE BEST JOB I HAD IN THE MARINE CORPS WAS AS AN INFANTRY COMPANY COMMANDER.

>> I WAS A U.F.C.

FIGHTER.

>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IN ST.

CLOUD.

I WAS THE GUY THAT BROUGHT FORWARD THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT MORATORIUM IN 2017.

>> Mary: THIS CROWDED CONTEST IS AN INTERESTING MIX OF MANY NEWCOMERS AND A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES WHO HAVE RUN BEFORE INCLUDING KENDALL QUALS AND SCOTT JENSEN.

>> TIM WALZ AT ONE LEVEL IS AN IMPOSTER.

HE LIES READILY.

>> RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN AND YOU'RE TIRED OF LOSING EVERY ONE OF THESE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.

>> Mary: COST OF LIVING WAS THE FIRST QUESTION.

NO SURPRISE, REPUBLICANS WANT TAXES CUT.

>> I FOUND OUT IN COLLEGE THAT THE EASIEST WAY FOR ME NOT TO SPEND MONEY WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY MONEY.

>> IF YOU WANT TO BUILD MINNESOTA, WE GOT TO DO WITH THE PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS AND CARPENTERS.

>> HELP THE NEXT GENERATION GET STARTED IN LIFE AND EASE THE BURDEN OF THOSE RETIRED.

>> WE NEED TO REDUCE THE WASTE WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO REDUCE FRAUD AND THOSE THAT ARE CAUSING FRAUD.

AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL.

WE WENT FROM A $52 BILLION BUDGET IN 2023 TO A $72 BILLION BUDGET TWO YEARS LATER.

40% INCREASE.

MINNESOTANS DID IT -- GET A 40% INCREASE IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE TO MINNESOTA WHEN YOU YOU'VE GOT ONE OF THE HIGHEST TAX RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE MINES IN THE NORTH.

WE ALSO NEED O START NOT JUST MINING BUT IL DRILLING HERE.

>> IF WE CUT D.E.I., WE'D SAVE $31 MILLION RIGHT THERE.

>> WE CAN END THE FRAUD.

WE CAN END SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

WE CAN REDUCE, F NOT ELIMINATE, MANY TAXES.

>> Mary: CANDIDATES WERE ASKED FOR A POLICY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THEY DISAGREE WITH.

>> THE WAY THAT THE T TARIFFS WERE UNROLLED WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.

>> WE HAVE TO GET A CANDIDATE ELECTED.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE THAT TARIFFS HAVE MADE, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AGRICULTURE.

>> I SENT THE PRESIDENT LETTER BACK IN JULY ASKING FOR HELP FROM FEDERAL D.H.S.

TO DO A FULL AUDIT OF MINNESOTA D.H.S.

AND IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO GET A RESPONSE BUT THEY ARE FULLY ENGAGED.

SO MAYBE THE TIMING WAS A LITTLE OFF, BUT WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS HELPING US WITH STOPPING THE FRAUD IN MINNESOTA.

>> I'M NOT A FAN OF THE NATIONAL DEBT.

OR THE ANNUAL DEFICIT.

>> IT IS SHOCKING AND AWE EFFECT REALLY KIND OF HURTS US ALL WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE MINORITIES.

>> WHEN THE PRESIDENT CALL A GROUP OF PEOPLE GARBAGE, I HAD A HARD TIME WITH THAT.

>> HE'S TOO SLOW TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES.

HE WAITS TOO LONG.

IT'S TOO SAFE.

>> I HAVE THE U.S.

DEBT CLOCK ON MY PHONE.

OUR DEBT PER CITIZEN RIGHT NOW IS $111,783.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

>> Mary: NEXT QUESTION IS IF THEY'D ABIDE BY THE ENDORSEMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME, NO.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> YES.

AND HELL, YES.

>> I'M GOING TO STAY IN THE RACE AS LONG AS I'M THE BEST PERSON TO BEAT TIM WALZ.

>> I'LL ABIDE BY IT IF WE ENDORSE SOMEBODY WHO CAN REALISTICALLY WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Mary: THE CONTENDERS WERE ASKED TO PROVE HOW THEY'D ATTRACT NONREPUBLICANS TO WIN STATEWIDE WHICH GAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AN ADVANTAGE.

>> I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE INCLUDING GOVERNOR WALZ THAT HAS NAMED MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

RYAN WILSON, HE IS IN THE ROOM WITH US TONIGHT.

AND HE CAME THE CLOSEST TO A STATEWIDE RACE IN 2022.

WE ARE PROVEN TICKET.

THAT CAN CROSS OVER, GET THE VOTES NEEDED.

IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

TO GET TURNOUT.

IN THE SUBURBS TO MOVE THOSE NUMBERS UP.

AND TO MAKE INROADS IN OUR METRO AREAS.

>> I HAVE A TRACK RECORD, WHEN YOU COMPARE MY STATS TO NYONE ON THIS DAIS, I OUTPERFORM ALL OF THEM.

AND I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF GETTING CROSSOVER VOTERS IN SUBURBAN DISTRICTS AND WE NEED