Former Minnesota GOP Chair Who Resigned In Sex Trafficking Scandal To Seek Late Husband’s House Seat

Politico reports:

The late GOP Rep. Jim Hagedorn’s widow is laying the groundwork to try to seek his old seat in Minnesota, according to multiple well-placed Republicans who are already raising alarms about her polarizing background. Jennifer Carnahan would bring more than ties to Hagedorn, who died last month after battling kidney cancer — she’s a former state GOP chair.

But Carnahan resigned the Minnesota Republican chair position last summer amid a scandal that began when a donor got charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking. She’s starting her Hill outreach early: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed to POLITICO that he and Carnahan spoke by phone this week, a day after Hagedorn’s Tuesday memorial service in Virginia.

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She’s starting her Hill outreach early: GOP leader McCarthy confirmed to me that he and Carnahan spoke by phone this week, a day after Hagedorn’s Tuesday memorial service in Virginia. She also met with the top R on the House Agriculture panel, which Hagedorn prev. served on.

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) March 11, 2022

Normally there is a rallying around widows in wake of a members death. But for Rs on Cap Hill, at least, Carnahan’s prospective candidacy would cause headaches.

Behind closed doors, Hagedorn’s friends in the House GOP worry she is trying to capitalize on his legacy

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) March 11, 2022