Chris Madel, who made headlines as the attorney for a state trooper who faced murder charges before they were later dismissed, announced his candidacy for governor on Monday. 

Madel launched his campaign at his Minneapolis law office, officially joining a crowded Republican field including House Speaker Lisa Demuth, 2022 Republican nominee Dr. Scott Jensen, U.S. Army veteran and business owner Kendall Qualls and Minnesota Rep. Kristin Robbins.

The GOP candidates are vying for a shot to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who launched his own bid for re-election in September. Walz hopes to make Minnesota history by serving three consecutive, four-year terms as governor.

"Why run when there are other Republican candidates? Because 'Tim Walz sucks' is not a strategy," Madel told the crowd. "Republicans love to say 'Tim Walz sucks' and that's pretty much where it ends."

In 2023, Madel represented Ryan Londregan, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper who was charged with murder, assault and manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb III during a traffic stop on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis. The case was later dismissed. 

He highlighted that work as a lawyer in his announcement, which included a PowerPoint with details about his platform and responses to anticipated questions about his record, including previous campaign donations he's made to Republicans and Democrats alike. 

"If you're looking for an apology, don't expect one," he said. 

He said he is focused on four key areas: attacking fraud in state programs, supporting law enforcement to have safer streets, strengthening education and making the government more efficient and affordable.

"This is sick and it keeps happening and it has to stop," Madel said of the fraud. 

For all GOP candidates, the issue is emerging as a key line of attack against Walz, whose state agencies have overseen the programs from which prosecutors say people have swindled hundreds of millions of dollars over the last several years.

When asked if he takes accountability for that ongoing problem, Walz, in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, defended his administration and condemned attacks by President Trump on the Somali community. Somali Minnesotans are among the defendants facing criminal charges for fraud. 

"I take responsibility for putting people in jail. Governors don't get to just talk theoretically. We have to solve problems. And I will note, it's not just Somalis. Minnesota is a generous state. Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state. We're AAA-bond rated. But that attracts criminals," the governor said. "Those people are going to jail. We're doing everything we can. But to demonize an entire community on the actions of a few, it's lazy."

Larry Jacobs, political science professor at the University of Minnesota, said fraud will be a liability for the two-term incumbent, but there is a lot of time yet until next November for the voters to decide what issues matter most to them.

"Will the question be, how is Tim Walts done as governor? In which case, I think the Republicans have an advantage. There is a lot that's happened in terms of a budget surplus becoming a deficit. The number of fraud investigations and now convictions are staggering in their magnitude," Jacobs said. "And so if the focus is on Tim Walz, he's going to have a hard time."

The governor's race coincides with a midterm election while President Donald Trump is in the White House. Historically, the party in power faces political headwinds in those contests. 

Walz is framing his re-election campaign, in part, as a bulwark against the administration.

And Republicans have their own hurdles, too: a competitive primary and then they will have to break a 20-year statewide losing streak. But with Walz at the top of the ticket, they think they can. 

Meanwhile, Democrats swept key races across the country last month, which is a boost to the party as it heads into next year. 

"We've been seeing, particularly last month, that the Democrats seem to be charged up and that Republicans appear divided. There's increasing criticism of Donald Trump over Epstein and other issues," Jacobs said. 

Before the general election match-up is set, Republican candidates will first seek their party's endorsement next spring. Some of them have suggested — as Madel did Monday — that if they don't get it, they will run in the state primary in August. That will prolong an intraparty fight.