Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison denied calling his opponent’s supporters racists and bigots, but a video of his own September remarks has him asking whether “the bigots and the racists” will show up and vote.
Story Snapshot
- At a televised debate that aired Friday, October 16, Republican challenger Ron Schutz asked Ellison to apologize for calling his supporters “racists and bigots.”
- Ellison denied it, telling Schutz, “I’m not going to buy into your deliberate misconstruction of what I said.”
- Video of Ellison’s remarks on Tuesday, September 22, shows him asking, “Or will the bigots and the racists show up and vote?”
- Clips of the exchange spread widely on social media on Saturday, October 17.
What Ellison Said, and How He Answered
Keith Ellison is Minnesota’s attorney general, the state’s top lawyer, and a Democrat seeking another term. At the debate, Ron Schutz, the Republican nominee for the office and a former chairman of a large Minnesota litigation firm, asked whether Ellison would apologize “for making a comment that all my supporters are racists and bigots.” Ellison denied making that charge and said Schutz was twisting his words. “Any sensible person knows that you’re misconstruing,” Ellison said.
Keith Ellison Denies He Called Republicans and Independents Racists and Bigots, but It's on Video https://t.co/CgQwuKsRAX
— † Crusader (@Wil_Johnson1) October 19, 2026
Schutz said the remark came on September 22 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. In the video, Ellison tells the crowd his last poll had him down two points against his opponent. “Because this is what you call a base election,” he says. “That means whoever gets out their base, that’s who’s going to win.” A base election is a race won by whichever side gets more of its own loyal voters to the polls. Then he asks: “Will the people who believe in the equality of human beings, in the dignity of all human beings, show up and vote? Or will the bigots and the racists show up and vote?”
Debate Flashpoint: Schutz Reads the Line Back
When a moderator asked Schutz for context, he read Ellison’s words back to him. “I read it exactly,” Schutz said. “But you called anyone who’s not voting for you a racist and a bigot.”
Ellison held his ground. “And you’re right, I’m asking for people who care about freedom and justice and mercy to show up and vote,” he said. He did not apologize. His answer framed the line as a call to his own voters. Schutz’s answer framed it as a label on everyone who backs the other side. The words on the tape are the same either way.
Why It Resonates With Voters Who Are Tired of Smears
Many conservatives are weary of being called names for voting their beliefs. When the state’s top law officer sets “the people who believe in the equality of human beings” against “the bigots and the racists” in a pitch about turnout, many voters hear a line drawn about who counts. In a close race, words matter. Respect for every voter should be the floor, not a bargaining chip in a rally speech.
The clip cut through because it is short and plain. Viewers can hear the question in Ellison’s own voice and set it next to his denial on the debate stage. That side-by-side is what sent the exchange racing across social media within a day of the debate.
What Comes Next for Minnesota Voters
Ellison has not apologized, and he has not walked back the September remark. Schutz has made the clip part of his case against him. Minnesotans will choose between the two on Tuesday, November 3. The video and the debate answer are both on the record, and voters can weigh them for themselves before they mark a ballot.
