Jon Grunseth

Who is Jon Grunseth?

Jon Grunseth was a Minnesota businessman and politician and the 1990 Independent-Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota. Grunseth won his party's endorsement and won its primary election, but was forced to quit the race nine days before election day in the wake of a scandal.

Grunseth, the Ecolab Vice President of Public Affairs, earned the Independent-Republican Party's endorsement at their state convention, defeating moderate State Auditor Arne Carlson. He defeated Carlson again in the primary to become the main opposition to two-term incumbent Governor Rudy Perpich.

On October 15, 1990, it was revealed that, in 1981, Grunseth had invited three then-teenaged friends of his step-daughter, as well as his step-daughter herself, to go skinny-dipping in the pool at his home. The revelations severely damaged his candidacy, leading Carlson to re-enter the race as a write-in candidate.

Facing certain defeat, Grunseth withdrew from the race on October 28, 1990. Carlson, the runner-up in the primary, replaced him on the ballot and ultimately defeated Perpich.