In a city dominated by liberal versus progressive debates, the Minneapolis Republican Party is looking to influence local politics with the limited power they have.

No Republicans currently represent Minneapolis in the Minneapolis City Council, state Senate, state House or U.S. House. Despite the long-shot odds, local Republicans are fighting to make an impact.

President and Chair of the Minneapolis Republicans Shawn Holster said the concept of the Minneapolis Republican Party did not exist until March 2023. Different state senate districts and political organizations dissolved and reconsolidated to form one party, Holster added.

With the party now organized, Holster said the biggest challenge is recruitment. Newsletters, social events and border-coordinated messaging are a few things the party is doing to get their name out.

“The greatest hill is letting people know we exist,” Holster said.

Holster said after George Floyd’s murder, people thought all the Republicans moved out of Minneapolis.

“As far as Minneapolis Republicans are concerned, we are your neighbors, not an evil entity that lurks in the shadows,” Holster said.

Bob Carney Jr., a Republican state house candidate for District 61B in southwest Minneapolis, said he is focused on making the party more open to different people.

“Being inclusive allows the party to build,” Carney Jr. said.

The Minneapolis Republican Party stands for election integrity, public safety, fiscal responsibility within the City and improving the quality of life in Minneapolis, Holster said.

“A little return for normality in Minneapolis is what we’re going for,” Holster said.

Holster said he moved from New Orleans to Minneapolis decades ago in hopes there would be less violence, despite references to the city as ‘Murderapolis.’

“I remember 15 to 20 years ago being able to sleep without hearing sirens,” Holster said. “That is not the case anymore.”

Larry Jacobs, a University of Minnesota professor with an emphasis on elections and voting behavior, said the party is a “fish out of water” in Minneapolis.

However, it is not a lost cause, Jacobs said. He added that if a Republican candidate could play to people’s grievances with the DFL, a Republican could win.

“I have a number of Somali students who own businesses who complain about too many regulations,” Jacobs said. “A Republican could tap into that and gain support.”

Holster agreed that the right candidate could win a local election in Minneapolis.

The same is true in Minnesota’s current state government, albeit to a lesser extent, with a trifecta held by the Minnesota DFL Party in the state House, Senate and Governor’s office. The last time a Republican won the governor’s office was Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who served from 2003-11.

Carney Jr., who also ran for governor, the U.S. House and City Council since 2010, said he has spoken with people who believe the current trifecta is too far skewed toward the DFL and that a divided government would be better. A divided government will bring more checks and balances to the state government, Carney Jr. added.

Jacobs said that the state of the Minneapolis Republican Party is still uncertain, as the party needs to reintroduce itself to Minneapolis voters.

“The Minneapolis Republicans can tap into what Former President Donald Trump has done with expanding his support based on critiques of the Democratic Party to possibly win,” Jacobs said.