Democrats Pressure Businesses To Disavow Nolan West Over Racist Posts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House Democrats are pressuring Minnesota businesses to disavow a Republican candidate who made racist social media posts.

Nolan West posted "IT'S LYNCHING TIME" on Facebook shortly after President Barack Obama's 2008 election. West is running for an open district in Blaine that could help determine which party takes the House majority.

Republican officials distanced themselves from West after the Star Tribune revealed his posts, and West lost his job as a House GOP aide. But a recent ad from the GOP-aligned Minnesota Jobs Coalition attacks West's Democratic opponent Susan Witt.

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said Friday the major Minnesota businesses that have put money toward the outside political group should reconsider and the ad should be pulled down.

A group spokesman calls Democrats' outrage a distraction.

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