Minnesota GOP meets to pick new party chair in hopes of turn

Carnahan was an unsuccessful state Senate candidate in Minneapolis last year, an uphill fight for a Republican in the deeply DFL city.

Carnahan, a South Korean adoptee, said she provides a fresh energy and look to a party that has struggled to win votes among urban voters and people of color.

She said her career developing and marketing brands for big companies like Ecolab and General Mills is perfect prep.

“The role of chair is to be someone who can manage a complex organization, raise money and build a strategic plan to get our candidates elected in 2018 and beyond and ultimately grow the base of the party,” she said.

“I know brand marketing and messaging,” she said.