Chairman Keith S. Downey 24 May 2014 Republican Party of Minnesota 2200 East Franklin Ave. Suite 201 Minneapolis, MN 55404 CC: Mr. David Thul, Republican Party of Minnesota 2200 East Franklin Ave. Suite 201 Minneapolis, MN 55404 Mr. Robert DeHaven Republican Party of Minnesota 2200 East Franklin Ave. Suite 201 Minneapolis, MN 55404 Mr. David J. Carlson Candidate for U.S. Senate Minnesotans for David Carlson 8362 Tamarack Village Suite 119 Woodbury, MN 55125

Dear Chairman Downey, I am writing this letter in regards to communication I first received from Mr. David Thul from the Republican Party of Minnesota (RPM) Nominations Committee at 14:41 CST on Friday, May 23, 2014—minutes before the end of the work day for many Minnesotans, and minutes before families across the state and nation began celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with their loved ones. In this letter, Mr. Thul started by his stating I hadn’t responded to the committee’s email, so he was assuming I wasn’t contending for endorsement at the Minnesota State Convention next Friday, May 30, 2014 in Rochester, Minnesota. I responded to Mr. Thul minutes after receiving his email by stating I hadn’t received anything from the nominations committee, and was contending for the endorsement. Mr. Thul later realized he had sent his email for me to the wrong address; thus, I did not receive it at the same time as the rest of the campaigns. So far this year I have now participated in four debates or forums, and many other events and galas with delegates present at each. To find out I have a new restriction to get through with only two and a half workdays to work with—or even your extension several hours later until more delegates arrive, is unacceptable to my campaign and I. Furthermore, neither I, nor any member of my campaign staff will be participating in the collection of signatures while the rest of the candidates politic, and I beg for even the opportunity to participate in their process. There is no way RPM can make the process fair and equitable for me, no mater what I will not have the same amount of time as any of the other campaigns, and if for no other reason than that alone, that fact should exclude me from that request. In essence, we are refusing to take part in any collection of signatures from whatever amount of eligible delegates are remaining--or where they may be, and when, on Thursday, May 29, 2014, before, or after. I am willing to meet with the rules committee and do our candidate discussion, but I will not beg for signatures from the very delegates I’ve stated in every debate I would not be abiding by their endorsement process; and did not in 2012 either.

Over 44,000 Minnesotans voted for my candidacy in the 2012 Minnesota Republican Party Primary for U.S. Senate, and I won two congressional districts, the best results for a challenger to an endorsed candidate since 1946. If those Minnesotans voices are not important or relevant to this party, then this minority party currently not in control of the Governorship, State House and Senate, Office of the Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, only three of eight congressional seats, and neither of the U.S. Senate seats has more serious issues to contend with. It is often said that the Republican Party is not tolerant of diverging opinions, and I would be hard pressed to think my stated opposition to party plank issues such as my support for marriage equality and against the marriage amendment, my stance as pro-choice and supportive of women’s rights, support for the anti-bully legislation and stance to not abide by party endorsement which all contradicted with official state party positions has gone unnoticed. I will not change who I am to fit any party, and I feel my campaign deserves to be respected; I alone have received numerous death threats to my family for my candidacy, and take it seriously. Begging delegates at the last minute for their signatures as every other campaign wines and dines is not something I feel on Memorial Day weekend is appropriate, and again I am an unwilling participant. I am respectfully requesting to have an official answer from the Republican Party of Minnesota by 11:30 CST tomorrow, May 25, 2014, as we all have to plan for the week and any last minute convention items that are due a day later. If I would have known this requirement at the exact time as the rest of the candidates, that would be a different story, but as is, I have not been able to take advantage of dozens of opportunities to collect the requested delegate signatures. If I still have not heard anything by 11:31, tomorrow, 25 May, 2014, I am assuming I am being prohibited from participation in the convention, and if I haven’t heard otherwise by 13:00 CST on Sunday, May 25, 2014, I will be releasing a statement from my campaign about the topic to the press and on my social media outlets. I understand it’s a holiday weekend, but this seems to be a decision that will have to be made at the highest levels of RPM, and because of the time constraints, one that must be made quickly as we all need to know how to plan for the next week and what we are or not doing for the 2014 Republican Party of Minnesota State Convention. Thank you. Sincerely,

David J. Carlson Prepared and Paid for by Minnesotans for David Carlson