MN-GOV: Third-party governor candidate Newcome enters Minnesota race with big personal money infusion

A third-party candidate has entered Minnesota’s race for governor with a big financial splash and a belief that he can recapture the sentiment that caused voters to break from the major parties in 1998.

Mike Newcome filed paperwork late last week to begin building his campaign as a Forward Independence Party candidate. He said Monday that he has already put $100,000 of his own money into the effort and would likely make more sizable infusions next year.

Newcome, 56, of Lake Elmo, said he’s convinced that every 25 to 30 years there’s a bit of a “tectonic shift” when people start to want a bigger change than DFL and Republican nominees offer.

“People say, ‘Oh, goodness, things aren't right. I'm willing to’ — I hate to say — ‘take a chance,’” he said. “I don't think people are actually taking a chance on me, but they're taking a chance stepping outside where they would normally run to and vote for.”


https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/11/17/mike-newcome-enters-minnesota-governor-race