The Minnesota Republican Party's two-day endorsement convention in Duluth ended over the weekend with the party having selected its endorsed candidates for November's statewide races — but the moment that dominated the political fallout had nothing to do with the ballot. Early Saturday morning, before the day's formal business began, a delegate requested a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer serving more than 22 years in a Texas federal prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in the Memorial Day 2020 death of George Floyd. State Rep. Danny Nadeau, a Republican from Rogers who chaired the convention, put the motion to an informal vote and then led roughly 2,300 delegates in approximately ten seconds of silent prayer for Chauvin. The tribute was not planned by party leadership.
The timing was not incidental. May 25 marked the sixth anniversary of Floyd's death — the day Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd lay handcuffed and face down on a Minneapolis street, saying "I can't breathe." Chauvin was found guilty by a jury in April 2021 on three counts: unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. The Minnesota Court of Appeals has previously rejected his appeal, and a judge denied his petition for a new trial in May of this year.
Ellison: 'An Act of Profound Cruelty'
Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted Chauvin and who was in Rochester over the weekend for the DFL convention where he received his party's endorsement for re-election, released a statement Sunday that did not mince words. "I am heartbroken and frankly shocked by the Minnesota Republican Party's decision to hold a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin at their convention yesterday — days after the sixth anniversary of George Floyd's murder," Ellison wrote. "George Floyd's children lost their father. His siblings lost their brother. His community lost a neighbor and friend. That loss is permanent and irreparable. The jury heard all the evidence. The appeals courts reviewed every claim. Justice was rendered according to our system of law. To honor the man convicted of murdering George Floyd — days after the very anniversary of that terrible day — is an act of profound cruelty to the Floyd family and to every Minnesotan who believes in accountability under law."
The Star Tribune reported that Ellison's statement also addressed the broader symbolism of the tribute, describing the moment as one that "dishonors the memory of George Floyd and wounds his loved ones all over again." He added: "I am deeply troubled by what this says about the state of our politics. I apologize to the Floyd family and to all the dedicated officers who do their jobs honorably every day."
GOP Chair Plechash Declines to Say Whether He Supported It
Minnesota Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash appeared on WCCO Radio Monday morning with host Vineeta Sawkar and defended the party's handling of the moment while declining to state his personal view. "That came from the body, of course. The body elected to have that moment of silence, we had maybe 10 seconds or so. There are a lot of people that believe Derek Chauvin was improperly convicted, and not treated well. Those people wanted to have a moment of silence in recognition because they felt that way," Plechash said. When Sawkar asked directly whether he agreed with those delegates, Plechash replied: "I don't think I'm going to comment on that, the court system had its verdict and I'm not going to challenge the court." Asked further whether he was comfortable with a convicted murderer receiving a tribute at the party's convention, Plechash said: "I don't think I should comment on that."
Convention chair Rep. Danny Nadeau told the Star Tribune that any delegate has the right to make a motion during the opening portion of the convention process, and that delegates submitted hundreds of such motions across the weekend. A spokesperson for the Minnesota Republican Party separately told the outlet that Nadeau's responsibility as chairman was to "preside over the proceedings" and that the vote on the moment of silence came from the delegates themselves, not from party leadership.
Emmer Defends the Delegates; Democrats Tie It to Broader Party Failures
Congressman Tom Emmer offered the most forceful Republican defence of the moment in a statement to FOX 9. "It's a sad day in the State of Minnesota when it's so-called 'news' that hundreds of patriotic Minnesotans came together to peacefully and respectfully recognize a member of law enforcement," Emmer said, adding that journalists should instead "cover the corrupt and incompetent Walz-Flanagan-Ellison-Simon administration." Some national conservative voices, including commentator Ben Shapiro, have argued in an open letter to President Trump that Chauvin did not receive a fair trial due to jury pressure, and have pushed for a presidential pardon. No pardon has been issued.
Democratic legislators tied the moment directly to gun violence and a stalled legislative agenda. Rep. Jamie Long (D-Minneapolis) called the tribute "disgusting" and noted the GOP had chosen to honour a convicted murderer while blocking a gun safety bill in the House. Rep. Jay Xiong (D-St. Paul) shared Long's post and called out House Speaker Lisa Demuth — who has not commented on the moment of silence — for remaining silent. "Two children were killed during morning Mass at Annunciation and 28 others were injured — and Demuth buried the gun safety bill and blocked a full House vote," Xiong wrote. "No moment of silence for Fletcher Merkel, Harper Moyski, or Melissa and Mark Hortman, murdered in their own home by a gunman with a death list of Democratic lawmakers."
Convention Endorsements and an Unresolved Ballot Dispute
Beneath the controversy, the convention accomplished its formal purpose. GOP delegates endorsed Kendall Qualls — who secured the party's backing over incumbent Governor Tim Walz — and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze for U.S. Senate. The convention also left an unresolved dispute over a disruption in the convention balloting, following which the Minnesota Republican Party said that Governor candidate Lisa Demuth may continue her campaign even though Qualls secured the party's formal endorsement. The Star Tribune noted that the Chauvin moment is now giving Democrats a ready-made attack line as the 2026 campaign season begins in earnest — one that Republicans will need to answer at every contested forum between now and November.
