MINNEAPOLIS — The Republican Party of Minnesota has elected Alex Plechash as chairman, ousting David Hann as the party’s leader during the state central committee meeting on Saturday.

The committee also voted for Dep. Chairwoman Donna Bergstrom to keep her position. 

“We had lots of passion and emotions and conversations in our ballroom,  but it was really good,” Bergstrom said on Sunday. “At the end of the day, I’m very happy that I was reelected as deputy chair.”

Bergstrom said a big focus for the party moving forward will be on messaging and reaching more people as they prepare for the gubernatorial race in 2026.

Plechash currently serves on the Wayzata City Council. According to his campaign website, he is a former committeeman for the Republican National Committee and has spent 20 years as a Republican activist.

Bergstrom has held her role as deputy chair since 2021, a time when the party was navigating financial struggles, the forced resignation of former chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan and a prominent donor’s sex trafficking charges.

“When I was first appointed by chairman Hann in October of ’21, and he was elected, we were in very, very bad shape, quite frankly,” Bergstrom said. “We had lost a lot of trust throughout the state with our party units. We were in the financial dire straits, if you will, so there was a real emphasis on bringing stability back, bringing non-drama back.”

“He and I had a great working relationship,” Bergstrom continued, speaking of her relationship with former chairman Hann. “We talked through issues behind closed doors, worked out those differences and so when we came forward, it was pretty much a united front, and I think the party needed that and appreciated that. Then there were some times when people would ask me to, ‘You got to really stand up and push back,’ and things like that, and I said I will definitely be your voice, but at the end of the day the chairman’s the chairman and he gets to make the decision.”

Bergstrom said she is looking forward to a more bold and united party under Plechash. 

“He’s also a retired Marine, so we have what I say is a secret handshake,” she said. “I don’t think he’s going to be afraid to make bold decisions, and I think people are really looking for that. We saw that modeled on the national level, we saw President-elect Trump do that same thing, be very bold in his statements, and tell people black and white this is how it is, and I think people are really looking for that in Minnesota.”

Minnesota DFL chairman Ken Martin said Hann’s removal as chairman was made “with by the help of far-right activists, including the group Action 4 Liberty” and provided this statement in response to the GOP’s new leadership:

“The Minnesota GOP has been completely captured by the most extreme, fringe activists in Minnesota politics. Control of Minnesota’s entire state government is on the ballot in 2026. Today’s chaos shows that if Minnesota Republicans regain power, they will be beholden to the same far-right fringe that now dominates the national Republican Party.”

The Minnesota GOP has not won a statewide election in Minnesota in almost two decades. 

Plechash did not return KARE’s call for comment.

CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Few things match the mystery of the theater, or the warmth that comes from the holidays. At the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, that warmth was easy to spot Saturday night.

Hundreds gathered to watch the musical White Christmas, but for one person, the show wasn’t the most important part of their evening.

It was who would be there.

“Me and her have had a really good bond since I’ve came into her life,” Sergeant Tony Bryand said.

Sgt. Bryand has been away on deployment in Kuwait for the last 10 months, returning home just in time for the holidays. On stage, his stepdaughter, nine-year-old Jenalia, plays Susan Waverly.

“Me being gone is a big change, really hard on her,” Sgt. Bryand said, choking up. “Hard on me.”

During the preshow announcement, emcee Nancy Nelson walked out, set to announce the start of the show.

Instead, she was interrupted by Jenalia.

“On behalf of the theater, Nancy, we would all like to thank you for all you do!” Jenalia said, surprising Nancy.

“You should have them, and I know someone who wants to give them to you, darling,” Nelson said in response. “Turn around!”

In front of the crowd, Jenalia turned and saw Sgt. Bryand, running into his arms, reuniting the two after months apart.

“He has not seen her on this stage, in this show, but he will tonight!” Nelson said while the two embraced.

Sgt. Bryand sat and watched his stepdaughter perform during the show, the nerves he had conquered, and now reunited for the holidays.

“Gonna give her a memory, gonna give us a memory that we’ll never forget,” he said.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — One man was killed after his truck collided with another vehicle in Inver Grove Heights on Saturday afternoon, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. 

The man was driving up the entrance ramp from Concord Boulevard to northbound Highway 52 when his truck lost control, said the state patrol. 

His truck crossed over the northbound lanes of Highway 52 before colliding with another vehicle, said the state patrol. 

The road conditions were snowy and icy when the crash occurred. 

The state patrol identified the man who died as 74-year-old Willard Pohl of Inver Grove Heights. 

The driver of the other vehicle and his five passengers, which included four children, were not injured in the crash.