MN Gov Candidate Rich Stanek Hospitalized After Wright County Crash

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN — Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, who is one of at least eight Republicans running for Minnesota governor, was taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a crash in Wright County, according to police.

Stanek, 60, of Maple Grove, was pulling out of the parking lot at Buffalo Covenant Church when he hit another car, driven by a woman from Clearwater, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The agency said the roads were wet at the time of the crash around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Stanek was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale "out of an abundance of caution," his campaign manager, Jon Collins, said.

He was admitted to ensure previous injuries he suffered during his career in law enforcement were not made worse by the "serious, but non-life-threatening" crash, Collins said in a statement.

Stanek was released from the hospital Thursday, and "doctors are not worried about any ongoing medical concerns," Collins said.

The woman from Clearwater was not taken to a medical facility for treatment or evaluation after the crash, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

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She and Stanek were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, and alcohol was not a factor, police said.

Stanek thanked medical professionals at North Memorial Health Hospital and first responders "who took great care of me," as well as those who sent their "warm wishes."

He also said he wants "to wish the other driver a full recovery."

Stanek said he would return to the campaign trail Thursday after taking "a couple days off … to rest."

He announced in February that he is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to challenge incumbent DFL Gov. Tim Walz in the Nov. 8 election. The 2022 primary is scheduled for Aug. 9.

Stanek served as Hennepin County sheriff from 2007 to 2019, after losing his 2018 re-election bid to current Sheriff Dave Hutchinson. Hutchinson is due to step down at the end of his first term after pleading guilty to a DWI charge in December after wrecking his county-owned vehicle.

Candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for Minnesota governor also include former state Sen. Scott Jensen, current state Sens. Paul Gazelka and Michelle Benson, Lexington Mayor Mike Murphy, Kendall Qualls, Neil Shah and Scott Magie, according to Ballotpedia.