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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

State GOP finances improve but $1M debt remains

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The Minnesota Republican Party says it still has a debt of more than $1 million.

The debt is significant as Republicans head into a critical election year where a U.S. Senate seat and five state constitutional offices, including governor, are on the ballot. But the state GOP finances are much better than a year ago. Party leaders announced that they reduced the party's overall debt by $520,000 in 2013 after raising $2.5 million in total contributions.

State Republican party leaders were left scrambling at the end of 2011 when Tony Sutton resigned as chair. An internal audit found the party was nearly $2 million in debt. The campaign finance board fined both Sutton and the state GOP for failing to properly disclose that spending.

Party officials reorganized their staff, moved their headquarters and ramped up fundraising to help cut the debt.

Republican Party chair Keith Downey said in a statement that the party is "better positioned for the future."

Republican Party Treasurer Bron Scherer said a "a relatively small portion" of the party's total debt as of the end of 2013 is due and payable before Election Day or throughout 2014.