Former WCCO Radio host Cory Hepola announces run for Minnesota governor

Minnesota media personality Cory Hepola is running for governor as a third-party candidate.

Hepola, who recently left his show on WCCO Radio and was previously an anchor and reporter for KARE 11, released his campaign video on Tuesday.

“I’m running for Governor of Minnesota,” a statement on Hepola’s campaign website says. “That’s a peculiar phrase I never expected to write. Of course, I never thought I’d have to, but — like you — I’m exhausted by the toxic two-party divisiveness that’s failing us, instead of honestly representing us.”

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response to the announcement:

“Minnesota doesn’t need another celebrity vanity candidate that could hand the Governor’s office to an anti-choice, anti-LGBT Republican. The current field of Republican candidates for governor is the most extreme that Minnesota has seen in decades, making Hepola’s spoiler campaign even more irresponsible. A vote for Cory Hepola is a vote to help the GOP cut taxes for the rich, defund public schools, and force their anti-choice agenda on Minnesotans.”

Hepola joins a crowded field of candidates looking to unseat DFL Gov. Tim Walz. As of Tuesday, at least nine Republican candidates had filed campaign documentation.

LIST: Candidates running for Minnesota governor in 2022