GOP Candidate Suspends Campaign After Daughter Found Dead
Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson has suspended his 2026 campaign following the tragic death of his 22-year-old daughter, Hallie Marie Tobler, who was found fatally stabbed in her St. Cloud apartment last weekend.
According to authorities, St. Cloud police responded Saturday night to reports of a stabbing at Tobler’s residence. Officers discovered Hallie with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Her husband, 23-year-old Dylan Michael Tobler, was also found at the apartment with injuries police believe were self-inflicted. He was transported to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Authorities have indicated they expect to charge him with second-degree murder upon his release from medical care.
The Minnesota Republican Party released a statement expressing profound sorrow and confirming Johnson’s decision to pause his campaign.
“There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family. The loss of a child is unimaginable and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve this devastating tragedy,” the Minnesota Republican Party said in a statement.
“We ask all Minnesotans to join us in lifting up the Johnson family during this incredibly painful time,” the party’s statement added.
Johnson, a former St. Cloud city councilman, had been seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2026. Following the tragedy, he announced he would step away from the race to focus entirely on his family.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth also shared her condolences.
“The Johnson family is walking through an unspeakable tragedy right now and my prayers are with them every step of the way. As a parent, I can’t imagine the grief and devastation they’re experiencing right now,” Demuth said.
Other Republican candidates in the race echoed similar sentiments.
Peggy Bennett said in part: “I cannot even imagine the heartbreak and sorrow that Jeff and his family are experiencing right now. My heart breaks for them.”
Minnesota Representative Kristin Robbins, who had been competing against Johnson for the GOP nomination, posted on X: “I am heartbroken for Jeff and his family over this horrifying tragedy. I can’t imagine their grief. Please join Brent and me in praying for Jeff and his family. May God be their refuge and strength in the days ahead.”
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, widely considered a leading contender in the governor’s race, also extended condolences, stating that she and her family were praying for all those who loved Hallie during what she described as an “unimaginably difficult time.”
Political Landscape Shifts
Johnson’s withdrawal reshapes the Republican primary field at a time when Minnesota politics are already under heightened scrutiny.
Klobuchar announced last month that she is entering the gubernatorial race after Gov. Tim Walz opted not to seek a third term amid mounting criticism tied to a large-scale fraud scandal involving state-administered programs. The controversy has fueled broader concerns about oversight failures and alleged misuse of taxpayer funds connected to federal nutrition, health care, and social service initiatives.
Klobuchar, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007, framed her campaign as a response to what she described as instability at both the state and federal levels.
“These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state,” she said, per Fox News.
“I’m running for everyone who wants more affordable healthcare, for every student, farmer, dreamer, and builder,” she said, alleging the Trump administration “relishes division” and chaos. “And I’m running for every Minnesotan who wants ICE and its abusive tactics out of the state we love.”
Her remarks signal that immigration enforcement and federal-state tensions could become central issues in the race — particularly as President Donald J. Trump continues to prioritize border security and ICE operations during his second term.
Investigation Ongoing
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the fatal stabbing and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
For now, however, politics has taken a back seat to personal tragedy. Leaders from both parties have set aside partisan differences to express sympathy for a grieving father and family facing an unthinkable loss.