Dave Hughes, retired USAF Major and longtime champion of constitutional conservatism, issued a blistering condemnation today in response to actions taken by certain members of the Congressional District 7 Executive Committee—actions he describes as “a direct assault on the grassroots Republicans who ARE the Republican Party.”
“Let me be absolutely clear,” Hughes stated. “The Republican Party does not belong to power-hungry insiders. It belongs to the hardworking grassroots conservatives who knock on doors, make the calls, give their time, their money, and their passion. What we are seeing from a handful of individuals on the CD7 Executive Committee is nothing short of an attack on these very people.”
Hughes cited ongoing efforts within the committee to centralize power, silence dissent, and override local decision-making processes that have been respected and upheld by Minnesota Republicans for decades.
“Their actions are illegitimate, unethical, and an embarrassment to the values we claim to defend,” Hughes continued. “Instead of strengthening our movement heading into 2026, these individuals are weakening it by undermining trust, transparency, and the will of the delegates they swore to serve.”
Hughes emphasized that these maneuvers do not reflect the majority of Republicans in CD7—only a small contingent attempting to consolidate control at the expense of the broader conservative base.
“This is exactly the type of political behavior we expect from DFL operatives—not from people calling themselves Republican leaders,” Hughes said. “Grassroots Republicans are done being pushed aside. We are done watching insiders make up rules as they go. And we will not sit quietly while the voices of our precincts, BPOUs, and Senate Districts are dismissed.”
Hughes also called out the silence of current Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach:
“And where is Michelle Fischbach in this mess? She is at the center of it—yet completely silent to her constituents. Minnesotans deserve better. It is time the 7th District has representation from a conservative who is bold enough to stand for our values, speak the truth, and defend the grassroots instead of hiding behind political convenience.”
Calling for accountability, Hughes urged principled conservatives within the Party to stand firm, demand corrective action, and reaffirm that the GOP remains a bottom-up organization—not a top-down bureaucracy.
“The Republican Party only wins when we honor the people,” Hughes concluded. “The grassroots built this movement, and I will always stand with them—no matter what games are played behind closed doors.”