Tag: Doug Wardlow

MyPillow lawyer announces run for Minnesota attorney general

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An attorney known for representing Trump-loving MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has announced that he will run for attorney general in the state of Minnesota.

Axios reports that Republican attorney Doug Wardlow is going to once again run for Minnesota AG after he previously lost the election to that office to current Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in 2018.

In his announcement video, Wardlow played up the kind of “law and order” messaging that former President Donald Trump tried in his unsuccessful re-election bid in 2020. Continue reading.

DFL Responds to Doug Wardlow’s Second Run for Attorney General


“Wardlow is a right-wing extremist who will do anything for political power.

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response to failed attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow’s second run for the office:

“Doug Wardlow is a right-wing extremist who will do anything for political power. When Minnesotans heard Wardlow’s plan to politicize the office of Attorney General by purging all DFLers from it, and when Minnesotans saw Wardlow take $24,000 from business owners who defrauded their customers, they agreed that Wardlow was unfit to serve as Attorney General.

“Since his defeat, Doug Wardlow has only gotten more extreme and more dangerous. Wardlow currently serves as general counsel to Mike Lindell, where he provides legal advice to a man who wants to use the United States military to stage a coup and forcefully overturn a free and fair election. The last thing Minnesotans want is a far-right extremist who does not believe in democracy like Doug Wardlow to serve as our Attorney General.”

Click here to read more on Wardlow’s history of extremism and bigotry, and his plans to politicize the office of attorney general.

Republican Karin Housley won’t run for U.S. Senate in 2020

Republican state Sen. Karin Housley announced Tuesday that she won’t seek a rematch against Democrat Tina Smith for U.S. Senate in 2020.

Housley, who lost to Smith by double digits in 2018, has been publicly mulling another U.S. Senate bid for months. But on Tuesday, the St. Marys Point Republican said that she ultimately decided to run for re-election in the state Senate instead.

“I love our communities and I love Minnesota — and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past seven years,” Housley tweeted. “I’m excited to continue that work.”

View the complete July 2 article by Torey Van Oot on The Star Tribune website here.

Skip Humphrey and Walter Mondale: Keith Ellison is the right choice for the critical job of attorney general

The Editorial Board was mistaken not to endorse a candidate. As former AGs, we know that Ellison is well-prepared for the job, and Doug Wardlow is unsuited for it.

The Star Tribune Editorial Board erred in its decision not to endorse in the Minnesota attorney general’s race (“Two deeply flawed AG candidates,” Nov. 2). As two former Minnesota attorneys general, we can say with confidence that Keith Ellison is well-prepared to fulfill the important duties of this essential constitutional office and is the only reasonable choice for Minnesota voters in this election.

The board did get it right when it concluded that Doug Wardlow is unsuited for office. His pledge to politically purge “42 Democratic attorneys right off the bat,” and install a loyalty test for newly hired lawyers, is singularly disqualifying. The Minnesota attorney general should be concerned only with hiring the best attorneys to serve the people of Minnesota, not those eager to serve a political agenda. We were heartened to see Keith Ellison pledge this week to support civil service reforms in the Attorney General’s Office, to ensure that the political purge Wardlow has promised cannot occur under any future attorney general.

A deeper examination of Wardlow’s record and agenda makes clear that he is out of step with the priorities of this office, and of the people of Minnesota. One of the most important duties of the office is to protect Minnesota consumers, yet Wardlow has pledged to side with large corporations over individuals’ rights. And he has refused to support lawsuits against the opioid manufacturers who, like the cigarette companies that the Attorney General’s Office previously brought to account, have made millions off addiction and death in our state.

Skip Humphrey served as Minnesota attorney general from 1983 to 1999. Walter Mondale is a former vice president and served as Minnesota attorney general from 1960 to 1964. Both are Democrats.

View the complete November 2 commentary by Skip Humphrey and Walter Mondale on the Star Tribune website here.

Wardlow’s Classmates: He did bully his LGBTQ Classmate

The accusation that Wardlow bullied one of our classmates for being gay, as reported in an Oct. 30 article “Wardlow, Ellison sharpen attacks,” is a reckoning for Eagan High School’s class of 1997. It is forcing us to come face-to-face with the fact that our school was not safe for LGBTQ students. Fortunately, many of us have grown up to recognize the dark underside of our high school days, become more tolerant and accepting, and even raise children who are doing the same.

Unfortunately, Doug did not make the same decision. Instead, he has doubled down on the hateful stances of his high school days. He has used his professional life at Alliance Defending Freedom to protect those who discriminate and attack those who need our love and support. Doug claims he will be apolitical when he takes office. We know that isn’t the case. Doug never was apolitical and never will be. He is an extremist who will try to take us back to a time to which we never want to return.

The undersigned members of the Eagan High School Class of 1997:

Tiffanie Baker, Missy (Leiferman) Boody, Katiah (Young) Brown, Marilyn Byrd, Lindsay Carlson, Meghann Fedde Charboneau, Alex Cook, Adam Cooley, Lea Coon, Stacy (Renick) Crakes, Scott Crichton, Lindsey Dickinson, Melissa (Geist) Feeler, Holly Flood, Rebecca (Larson) Gierok, Jean Harlson, Lynn S. Larson, Dana (Edwins) Leno, Joel Lessard, Daniel Machovsky, Erin (Harmon) Matschiner, Jason J. Miller, Lindsey Munro, Katie (Mozer) Murr, Dan Murr, Pathana Navandy, Laura (Anderson) O’Connor, Nickie Pufall, Chad R. Rath, Megan (Ruegg) Robertson, Kristen Scarpetta, Alicia Peterson Shams, and Ryan Thorman. This letter was submitted by Katie Murr of St. Paul.
Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 2, 2018

Wardlow Shows True Colors on Gun Safety, Reverses Support for Background Checks and Accepts NRA Donations

Ellison has been a longtime advocate for common sense gun safety reforms, and will support efforts to reduce gun violence as Attorney General

MINNESOTA – Congressman Keith Ellison and gun safety advocates today called out Republican Attorney General Candidate Doug Wardlow for flip-flopping in his support for criminal background checks on all gun sales in Minnesota. Not only has Wardlow lied about his support for this common sense provision, his latest campaign finance report reveals that he did so while accepting campaign donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

“While 90 percent of Minnesotans rightly support common sense gun safety measures like criminal background checks, Doug Wardlow backed down as soon as the gun lobby came calling,” said Ellison. “After the tragic events of this last weekend, Minnesotans understand better than ever the need to elect a strong advocate who will protect the safety of all Minnesotans as Attorney General.”

During the KSTP Attorney General debate last Sunday, Wardlow was asked whether he would support criminal background checks on all gun sales, to which he replied: “Yes I would.” Then, this past Saturday, on the same day as a tragic and deadly act of gun violence, Wardlow backed away from this position, saying that he “absolutely [does] not support background checks for private sales” and he “[does not] support any new gun laws.” Continue reading “Wardlow Shows True Colors on Gun Safety, Reverses Support for Background Checks and Accepts NRA Donations”

Doug Wardlow, LGBT rights and the gay man he allegedly bullied in high school

Ryan Durant holds a Eagan High School yearbook with a photo of Douglas Wardlow in Brooklyn Center on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. Credit: Jean Pieri, Pioneer Press

Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow’s record of opposing some gay rights dates back years.

For Ryan Durant, a former high school classmate, Wardlow’s views aren’t just a question of policy. They’re personal.

Durant remembers Wardlow as a high school bully who repeatedly harassed him for being gay — and as the person who mocked him after he attempted suicide in the 10th grade. Both Durant and Wardlow attended Eagan High School and graduated in the class of 1997.

View the complete October 27 article by Ryan Faircloth on the Pioneer Press website here.

Women’s Health Leaders Join Keith Ellison to Condemn Wardlow’s Derogatory Comments and Anti-Choice Agenda for the Attorney General’s Office

Newly unearthed blog reportedly authored by Wardlow says that “[a woman’s body] is designed to bear offspring,” and decries the Griswold v. Connecticut case, which guaranteed the right to access contraception

These views are consistent with Wardlow’s stated objectives for the Attorney General’s Office, saying he would favor overturning Roe v. Wade and would prioritize criminalizing a woman’s right to choose

With President Trump’s conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, Minnesotans need someone who will defend women’s rights as Attorney General, not attack them

MINNESOTA – Women’s health care leaders and advocates stood with Congressman Keith Ellison today in his campaign for Attorney General. to denounce derogatory comments reportedly made by Wardlow, and to condemn his dangerous and extreme anti-choice agenda for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

“As women’s rights fall under continued attack at the federal level, my opponent has pledged to use the Office of Attorney General to criminalize a woman’s right to choose and serve President Trump,”said Ellison. “These latest comments reinforce Wardlow’s long career of discrimination against those he disagrees with. As Attorney General, I will defend the rights of all, including the right of Minnesota women to access safe, affordable health care.”

News reports indicate that Doug Wardlow authored a secret, far-right political blog in violation of nonpartisan judicial ethics standards during his time working at the Minnesota Supreme Court. Among the extreme positions Wardlow reportedly took on the blog, are a belief that “[a woman’s body] is designed to bear offspring,” and a belief that the Griswold v. Connecticut case, which guaranteed the right to access contraception, represents the use of “activist courts to subvert the will of the people.” Continue reading “Women’s Health Leaders Join Keith Ellison to Condemn Wardlow’s Derogatory Comments and Anti-Choice Agenda for the Attorney General’s Office”

Doug Wardlow Must Answer Whether He Violated Judicial Ethics Standards by Authoring Extreme, Far-Right Blog

Reports that Wardlow broke nonpartisan judicial ethics standards must be answered, especially in light of his plans for a ‘partisan purge’ of the AG’s office

The blog Wardlow allegedly authored details extreme far-right views on reproductive rights, the death penalty for children, and voting rights

MINNESOTA – Today, a news report detailed the extensive evidence suggesting Republican Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow authored an extreme, far-right blog in violation of judicial ethics standards during his time as a clerk for the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Such a flagrant disregard for neutrality under the law would be extremely concerning for the state’s top attorney, especially given Wardlow’s pledge for a partisan purge in the office, and his longstanding history of discrimination.

The following is a statement from Sam Fettig, Communications Director for Keith Ellison for Attorney General.

“Doug Wardlow has refused to tell Minnesotans his true plans for the Attorney General’s Office, and now refuses to answer whether he violated judicial ethics standards by authoring a far-right blog while serving as nonpartisan staff to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The author of this blog advocates for allowing the death penalty for children, against a woman’s right to choose, and against voting rights. Minnesotans must know if this is what Doug Wardlow truly believes.”

Doug Wardlow on Separation of Church and State

Anyone concerned about this issue should be award of Mr. Wardlow’s statement earlier this year in radio interview on the Justice and Drew program:

HOST: “The separation of church and state, which isn’t a real concept.

WARDLOW: “No, it’s not. No, it’s just something Jefferson put in a letter. It’s not really a real concept at all.”

Here’s a link to the actual audio (note the laughter about this being a legitimate concept to avoid having this country fall into a theocracy).