MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - What has changed the most in the Minnesota GOP since Tim Pawlenty won the governor’s office in 2006?

He says it’s simple: President Trump.

"Well, the Minnesota GOP, like the national GOP, has an identity. It’s called MAGA," Pawlenty told FOX 9. "And again, it works in much of the rest of the country and it works nationally for now, but it hasn’t worked in Minnesota."

He’s not advocating for moving away from MAGA politics, but rather expanding it to reach Minnesota moderates.

"So we have to take the MAGA brand and improve it and apply it to the micro-climate, political climate of Minnesota," Pawlenty said.

North Star Summit

The backstory:

Pawlenty was on a panel discussion at the inaugural Star Tribune North Star Summit, a day-long event focusing on politica

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