Chris Madel Ends Minnesota Governor Bid Over ICE 'Disaster'

Chris Madel ended his campaign for governor on Monday in an almost 11-minute video posted to X, saying Operation Metro Surge is an "unmitigated disaster," campaign advisers said.

His withdrawal followed the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and the later fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during protests, developments that intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics, aides and local officials said.

In the video, Madel said "United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear" and called the use of civil warrants for home entries "unconstitutional," and his campaign confirmed he had provided pro bono counsel to Jonathan Ross.

Operation Metro Surge has deployed roughly 3,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis area since December and resulted in thousands of arrests, local officials and campaign advisers said.

Lawmakers and party officials called for joint federal-state investigations and congressional oversight hearings, and party strategists warned Madel's exit could reshape GOP messaging in the governor's race, officials said.