At a Republican caucus in Clay County, Minnesota, a self-described witch unexpectedly interrupted proceedings Tuesday night by declaring a curse on the attendees — an event that ended with people in the room praying together.
The incident occurred at an elementary school cafeteria during the reading of results from a straw poll for the Minnesota governor’s race. Attendees had gathered to hear that candidate Kendall Qualls was leading and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was trailing. Before the numbers could be fully explained, an individual dressed in a green cape with a cross necklace and carrying a red cane loudly declared: “I’m a witch. I hex all of you!” and began cackling.
A couple of men moved to escort the person out of the approximately 70-person crowd, but the individual continued shouting accusations, claiming that people in the room had been complicit in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by supporting Republican candidates. Both Good and Pretti were killed in separate shootings in Minneapolis involving federal immigration agents — incidents that have sparked protests and scrutiny.
After the person was led away, an uneasy silence filled the room — until one man called on the group to pray. “We cancel that curse, that hex, in Jesus’ name,” he said, and the crowd responded with “Amen.” The group then offered a second prayer, this time asking for understanding and guidance for the person who had disrupted the event.
Caucus organizers said they did not know the identity of the heckler and noted that nothing like this had happened at their events before. While unusual, the disruption comes amid broader political protests and tension in the state this year.