Zinda joins Republican candidates for Senate District 6 at deadline

BRAINERD — Matthew Zinda, a former House candidate who lost a primary bid to Rep. Josh Heintzeman in 2024, is the last of eight Republicans to run in the special election in Senate District 6.

The seat was left vacant by the resignation of Justin Eichorn. The primary election will be April 15, and the general election is set for April 29.

Zinda describes himself as a self-employed driver/umpire/journalist on his candidacy Facebook page. In a post on April 1 — the final day of the candidate filing period — Zinda shared a photograph of his affidavit of candidacy.

"Here's my first campaign promise: You won't pay jack in taxes w/o proper representation!" his page stated in a follow-up post.

In the comments, he expanded that thought: "If you, Minnesotan, are being taxed w/o representation, please see me; my phone number and email address and physical address are public. If you intend ill-will toward me or those I accurately represent, don't bother knocking, just come in."

Zinda said he door-knocked for fellow candidate Jennifer Carnahan before deciding to run himself. He said Carnahan, who is a Korean adoptee, "does not look like us or act like us," and said she is "gonna do great things for South Korea."

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Minnesota Secretary of State's Office

"Through absolutely no fault of your own, you do not accurately represent me and my ilk, here on north central Minnesota soil. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about you, and you have never harmed me in any way," Zinda's post stated. "I just can not, in good conscience, vote or persuade anyone to vote for any of the current candidates, regardless of party, which is the only reason I have decided to run; it is purely a moral decision; I'm sorry if any feelings are hurt."

Eichorn resigned March 20 under pressure from both state parties and numerous individual lawmakers and the promise of a vote to expel him by the Minnesota Republican Senate Caucus. He was arrested March 17 in a law enforcement sting operation after he allegedly attempted to solicit a 17-year-old for paid sex, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Eichorn's departure from the Senate means Republicans now have 32 members, while the DFL has 34. The district includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Brainerd and Baxter.