Jerry Trooien
Jerry Trooien (unaffiliated) ran in a special election to the U.S. Senate to represent Minnesota. He lost in the special general election on November 6, 2018.
Trooien completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Trooien graduated from Harding High School in 1965. His professional experience includes working as an investor.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
Special general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota
Incumbent Tina Smith defeated Karin Housley, Sarah Wellington, and Jerry Trooien in the special general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tina Smith (D) | 53.0 | 1,370,540 |
 | Karin Housley (R) | 42.4 | 1,095,777 | |
| Sarah Wellington (Legal Marijuana Now Party) | 3.7 | 95,614 | ||
Jerry Trooien (Unaffiliated)  | 0.9 | 24,324 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 1,101 | ||
| Total votes: 2,587,356 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota
The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tina Smith | 76.1 | 433,705 |
 | Richard Painter | 13.7 | 78,193 | |
 | Ali Chehem Ali | 3.3 | 18,897 | |
| Gregg Iverson | 3.1 | 17,825 | ||
 | Nick Leonard | 2.9 | 16,529 | |
 | Christopher Seymore | 0.9 | 5,041 | |
| Total votes: 570,190 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota
Karin Housley defeated Bob Anderson and Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey in the special Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karin Housley | 62.0 | 186,384 |
 | Bob Anderson | 35.6 | 107,102 | |
| Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey | 2.5 | 7,375 | ||
| Total votes: 300,861 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jerry Trooien completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Trooien's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
do the right thing not the party thing do the right thing not the party thing do the right thing not the party thing
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
both domestic and foreign policy
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Countless mentors and teachers from all periods of human history. They are from all the different traditions and civilizations. Truth is one, the sages speak of it in many ways.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers and "The Power of Myth."
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Commitment to finding the truth within the bounds of human understanding. Guts and brains.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Paradoxically, humility and confidence. Determination to not let fear lead.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Leadership
What legacy would you like to leave?
He truly cared.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Kennedy assassination/ 17 years old
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
worked at the little league/ couple of years
What happened on your most awkward date?
spilled the pop and popcorn all over
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving because gratitude is the key to living
What is your favorite book? Why?
books and videos by Joseph Campbell because he opens the door to the story of humanity and my own story within it
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Indiana Jones, Zorro, Han Solo, two characters from "Lonesome Dove" Augustus McCray and Woodrow F Call
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
The bed----:):):)
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Michael Bolton/ Missing you now
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
The same one we all share, namely can I lead an authentic life and keep believing in giving love as opposed to worrying about if i am going to get love.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
The same challenges i face as an individual. Will I get beyond myself and be courageous, sharing and committed to something. In business terms, will i thing first about taking from the deal or will i think first about giving to the deal?
What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?
Look at how important it has been in human history for hundreds of years
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?
no, not at all necessary
What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?
will they do the right thing not the party thing
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?
well of course. It's hard to have good policy if we have bad politics
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I am a pure independent
Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
learn from many
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
My personal experiences along with being an independent makes me unique in this United States Senate race. America is developing a crisis from within not from without. The great Dov Seidman said, "what we are experiencing is an assault on the very foundations of our society and democracy--the twin pillars of truth and trust." America developed the ideal that the source of legitimate authority to govern would come from "we the people." Seidman says, " when there is no "we" anymore, because "we" no longer share basic truths, "then there is no legitimate authority and unifying basis for our continued association." We are to often retreating into reclusive echo chambers where we forget each others humanity and fail to embrace our fellow Americans with whom we share the values from whence we came. How could there be a more important priority than striving to build bridges of respect, tolerance and creative challenge within us as a people.The most important issue is the actions of the two major parties and their abdication of leadership in Congress. Their behavior is always geared to the lowest common denominator and they are in a race to the bottom. Each party has a definition of success as making the other party look bad. I realize how they reflect broader society and the division we now have. Nonetheless, members of the respective parties will not oppose their own leaders. Talk about bipartisanship on major issues is just that, nothing but talk. For things to change someone has to be the change. I will deliver my message to Minnesotans independently and without being told by some caucus how to vote and what to say. Is there anything you would like to add? A proud Minnesotan, Jerry grew up on St. Paul’s East Side. From his early childhood, Jerry loved sports and non-fiction/fiction stories of heroes who fought for justice and the downtrodden. He grew up surrounded by parents and other families who believed in the value of hard work and being recognized not for how rich you were, but for how richly you lead your life. To this day, Jerry sees himself as a product of growing up on the East Side.[2] |
” |
| —Jerry Trooien[1] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
