Republicans Anonymous

My name is Brian, and I used to be a Republican.

I grew up on a farm in Kansas. Hard work, plain talk, take care of your neighbors, don't spend money you don't have. That's what the party meant to me for most of my life. I served on the Ramsey Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission because I believe in showing up and doing the work, not just talking about it.

Then came January 6th. I watched it happen like everyone else. But it was the conversations with my wife in the weeks after that changed something in me. We talked about what the party used to stand for, and what it had turned into right in front of us. It wasn't one moment. It was a lot of small ones that added up to me realizing I didn't recognize the party anymore. So I left.

Here's what I've figured out since then. Donald Trump isn't a Republican in any sense I grew up with. He's his own thing, and the party bent itself around him. Tom Emmer decided his job was going along with that. And Harry Niska has built his career going along with Emmer. That's my read on it, and I could be wrong, but watch the votes and decide for yourself.

None of that is an attack on Republicans. My dad was a Republican. More than half of Ramsey and Andover are Republicans, or used to call themselves that. This is about the difference between the party a lot of us grew up in and the party some people are running today. Those are not the same thing, and pretending they are is how we ended up here.

If you're a Republican who feels like the party left you instead of the other way around, I want you to know you're not the only one. That's the whole idea behind something I want to start doing here. Call it Republicans Anonymous. No dues, no meetings, just a place to say it out loud. My name is Brian, and I used to be a Republican. Maybe you did too.

I’m holding events throughout the summer and invite everyone to come have a conversation with me. Like so many, I’m tired of the keyboard warriors, the online vitriol, the Fox or CNN skew. We need to talk as neighbors. It’s your block, your voice and everyone is welcome to join.

Learn more on my events page to find one near you.

I'm running for State House in District 31A because I think Minnesota needs people who'll say what's true instead of what their party wants them to say. I may be running as the DFL candidate, but I’m not asking you to become a Democrat - I’m asking you to vote for your neighbor.