Minnesota GOP Senators Had COVID, But GOP Caucus Did Not Tell DFLs

Controversy over how Republicans in the Minnesota Senate notified others of a COVID-19 outbreak in their caucuses spread on Saturday, with senior elected officials exchanging accusations of mismanaging the pandemic.

After several Senators and Republican staff in Minnesota tested positive for COVID-19, a GOP caucus leader emailed Republicans on Tuesday to give them an overview of the news. Senate Democrats, however, were not told their GOP colleagues had contracted the highly contagious disease until a special session was held on Thursday.

The internal email obtained by MPR News indicated that a number of cases had been identified among GOP lawmakers and their staff.

A caucus spokesperson did not quantify the number, citing medical confidentiality, but said no one from the Republican caucus in attendance at Thursday’s special session was at risk of spreading COVID-19.

Two Minnesota GOP Senators, Dave Senjem of Rochester and Paul Anderson of Plymouth, later confirmed that they tested positive for COVID-19. Another said a result was pending.

News of the positive test results drew the quick ire of Senate Democrats and Governor Tim Walz, who called the GOP’s silence on the issue irresponsible.

“This lack of transparency is a blatant disregard for the health and safety of others: our DFL and non-partisan staff, our members and the communities we return to home,” said DFL Senate chief Susan Kent. de Woodbury, in a statement Friday night describing it as “scandalous and totally unacceptable”.

Anderson said on Friday that his positive test result had just been received, but had been in self-quarantine all week after experiencing symptoms.

He was not among the small number of senators on Capitol Hill for this week’s special session. Most participated remotely. Lawmakers are not expected to hold another session until mid-December.

In a memo released Saturday afternoon, the GOP Senate caucus said members met on Nov. 5 in a “large courtroom” in the Minnesota Senate building and members were socially left behind and wore masks. The memo says Senjem informed the caucus that he had tested positive for COVID late Monday, November 9.

Walz said on Saturday that anyone who knows of the existence of a positive COVID-19 test has a “moral obligation” to inform people who may be at risk.

“As elected officials, we must lead by example. I just don’t understand why Senate Republicans chose only to share that there were positive cases in their caucus with members of their own party before Thursday’s session.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka of R-East Gull Lake defended his caucus on Saturday, saying its members are following state and federal health recommendations on social distancing, masks and ” limit the time spent together during the session so that no one is endangered ”.

He retorted that Walz was trying to blame the Republicans. “Your policies have failed to protect residents and LTC (long-term care) workers, and with the community spreading unchecked despite the masks and distances, you are just looking for someone to blame,” he said. Gazelka wrote on Twitter on Saturday.