Dakota County Sheriff Endorses Keith Ellison's Opponent, Jim Schultz

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie and 21 other Minnesota sheriffs announced their endorsement of Republican Jim Schultz for state attorney general.

Schultz is running against incumbent and Democrat Keith Ellison, who was elected to the top legal spot in 2018, after serving in Congress.

"I am beyond humbled to be endorsed by sheriffs from across the state," said Schultz in a news release.

"Over the past several months, I’ve been able to learn from these sheriffs about the specific concerns facing their counties and what the Attorney General can do to help them better protect their communities. From the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs to Greater Minnesota, our communities are hurting as a result of the failed leadership and reckless defund-the-police policies of Keith Ellison. As Attorney General, I will partner with our county sheriffs to make sure they have the tools they need to keep us safe. Together we will restore safety to our communities."

Ellison is in a dead heat with Schultz, according to poll published Sunday. The "Minnesota Poll" was conducted by the Star Tribune, MPR News, and KARE 11.

"Jim Schultz is the person Minnesota needs now," said Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.

"Our current attorney general has been missing in action over the past three years while violent crime has skyrocketed in Minnesota. What’s more troubling, Keith Ellison wanted to eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department, further jeopardizing the safety of all citizens living in and visiting our state’s largest city. This election is about ensuring that crime in Minnesota is effectively prosecuted and that police have the resources they need to arrest serious violent offenders. Jim understands the public safety needs of Minnesota and has the vision desperately needed in the Attorney General’s office."

The following sheriffs announced their endorsement of Schultz on Tuesday:

• Sheriffs James Stuart (Anoka County)
• Todd Glander (Becker County)
• Ernest Beitel (Beltrami County)
• Troy Heck (Benton County)
• Mark Empting (Clay County)
• Scott Goddard (Crow Wing County)
• Tim Leslie (Dakota County)
• Scott Rose (Dodge County)
• Kurt Freitag (Freeborn County)
• Mark Haberer (Grant County)
• Mark Wilwant (Kittson County)
• Josh Guenther (Mahnomen County)
• Shawn Larsen (Morrison County)
• Jeremy Thorton (Norman County)
• James Tadman (Polk County)
• Bob Fletcher (Ramsey County)
• Mitchell Bernstein (Red Lake County)
• Steve Soyka (Stearns County)
• Michael Carr (Wadena County)
• Brad Milbrath (Wasceca County)
• Dan Starry (Washington County)
• Sean Deringer (Wright County)