Republican Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson suspended his campaign after his daughter was stabbed to death during a botched murder-suicide that took place over the weekend, the New York Post reports.
Hallie Marie Tobler, 22, was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside her locked apartment by responding police while her husband, Dylan Michael Tobler, was located with critical injuries stemming from suspected self-inflicted stab wounds, the St. Cloud Police Department said in a media release. Dylan, 23, who was reported to have been elevated to stable condition, was taken into police custody and is expected to face homicide charges in connection with his wife’s death following his hospital release, police confirmed.
Johnson, a former St. Cloud city councilman who launched his Republican bid for Minnesota governor in March 2025, suspended his campaign following the “tragic loss” of his daughter, the Minnesota Republican Party announced in a statement released on Monday (February 9).
“Out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss, Jeff has suspended his campaign for Governor of Minnesota. We ask all Minnesotans to join us in lifting up the Johnson family during this incredibly painful time,” the statement reads. “We also extend our gratitude to the first responders and law enforcement officers involved and ask for patience and compassion as the investigation continues.”
Johnson ran a campaign focusing on crime, immigration and fraud in Minnesota, which has become a battleground for ICE operations and protests in recent months. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth is currently the favorite among the Republican candidates, followed by U.S. Army veteran and former business executive Kendall Qualls and ‘My Pillow’ CEO Mike Lindell, according to KSTP.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination following Gov. Tim Walz‘s decision to suspend his campaign in January.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
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