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Thursday, Jun 4, 2026

Did a state Senate candidate propose the moment of silence for Derek Chauvin at the Minnesota GOP convention?

Brian Arola, MinnPost
yes

The delegate who proposed a moment of silence for convicted murderer Derek Chauvin at the Minnesota Republican convention filed to run for a state Senate seat.

Christopher Rocco made the motion to recognize the former Minneapolis police officer on the convention floor Saturday, May 30, in Duluth. Chauvin is currently serving a prison term after his conviction for murdering George Floyd in May 2020.

The convention’s chair, state Rep. Danny Nadeau, R-Rogers, allowed Rocco’s motion to proceed before delegates observed a brief moment of silence. Afterward, Rocco – who said Chauvin should get a retrial and a pardon for a related federal civil rights conviction – told the Minnesota Reformer that he planned to run for office. 

He filed Tuesday under the mononym “Rocco” as a Republican candidate for Senate District 65, which includes St. Paul and West St. Paul. Two DFL candidates also filed for the open seat.

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