Jennifer Carnahan is "A New Hope" for the MNGOP

Going up against a plethora of more experienced candidates such as National Committeeman Rick Rice and Deputy Chairman Chris Fields  Jennifer Carnahan as State Chair of the Minnesota Republican to most seemed at mo
st a bit far fetched, but not to me. Several month before I had sat down for Lunch at Cy's in Chaska and I had predicted that Jennifer Carnahan would emerge as the next Chair of the MN Republican party.
As a Candidate for SD59 Jennifer was told she had no chance of winning and statistically she didn't but a long with Margaret Martin and Jessica Newville Jennifer ran as if she could. She gave it her utmost best, Jennifer broke fundraising records and performed better then most of the previous candidates for the district emerging with 22.1 percent of the vote in one of the safest DFL districts in the state.
During the Course of her campaign for State Chair came face to face with the good old boy system of the Republican and she faced it with exemplary courage. Jennifer asked me after a particularly night during the campaign about facing adversity in the GOP. How Do I continue to fight without being worn down when people lie about me and call me names and  told her "Its not about what they call you it's about what you answer to." I've always identified with Jennifer because  we've fought a lot of the same battles to prove ourselves repeatedly to a system that is historically resistant to change. Many saw Jennifer as an opportunity to take the racist card out of the DFL's deck of cards, but  there was a  lot more then race involved in the selection process. What should intimidate the opposition is her drive. When Jennifer puts her mind to something she gets it done.

the other key aspect is Jennifer's story Carnahan of being born in rural South Korea, abandoned at a local hospital and adopted and rising to the top of fortune 500 companies is about hard work and determination, It is the epitome of the Republican philosophy of it doesn't matter where you come from "if you work hard enough you can get there." A philosophy that we have strayed from for too long to the point we'd become elitist, disillusioned and complacent. Jennifer's election challenged the status quo, defied the practice of picking of winners and losers and opened doors for a more inclusive more upbeat more positive Republican party.
I have the utmost confidence in Jennifer's leadership and know she will lead the party with dignity with equity and with decency, She represents the American dream, a fresh vision and a new hope for the Republican party.