Winona Republicans hope Trump's visit will gather base before mid-term | Local

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The Winona Daily News plans to send two journalists and a photographer to President Trump's rally in Rochester. Go to winonadailynews.com throughout the day for updates from inside and outside the arena. Are you planning to go there? Let us know by email [email protected].

In a statement released last week, Jennifer Carnahan, chair of the GOP, called the president's visit a "dream come true." This sentiment was echoed by James Doerr, president of the Winona County Republicans, who said he was delighted with the re-election of the president. Minnesota, a state that offers several high-level races this fall.

"It's an encouragement for local candidates, especially those coming to the federal offices, to get support from the president," Doerr said of the upcoming visit.

Doerr is hopeful that the excitement of the president's "power in the spotlight" will be enough to help Republican candidates tilt the scales at the polls.

One of these candidates is Jim Hagedorn, a Blue Earth businessman and a strong supporter of Trump.

Hagedorn is once again a candidate for the 1st Congressional District of Minnesota, a seat he lost to Congressman Tim Walz, who has six terms, eight points in 2014 and 2,500 votes in 2016.

While Walz is targeting the governor's seat, Hegadorn has a new challenger, Democrat Dan Feehan, former head of the Obama administration and native of Red Wing.

Doerr is convinced, with the help of the president and the full backing of the Republican National Committee, that Hagedorn has every chance on his part to set the tone for the district.

"We are very excited about Trump," he said. "In 2016, you saw people coming out of the woods."

The coming fall, three more congressional seats, a governor's race, two US Senate races and a hotly contested battle for the state attorney general's office.

Doerr said that with a little more than a month of general elections, the big question is whether the party can create enough momentum or not.

"Let's hope we have good participation," he said.

As Republicans gather around the president, the LDF has its own plans. At 16. Thursday, the evening will take place around Rochester, qualifying the knock of KNOCK-tober.