Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen speaks at a news conference outside the State Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday, June 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Dr. Scott Jensen, the expected GOP nominee in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, revealed to the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he is not vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.

A family practitioner since the 80s, Jensen received the state Republican Party’s nomination last month. Despite a mandate by President Joe Biden for all workers in Medicare or Medicaid-certified facilities to be vaccinated, Jensen told the Pioneer Press that he avoided getting vaccinated while still practicing medicine by working in private practice. This is despite the fact that he is still seeing and advising patients, according to Pioneer Press’ Dave Orrick.

Jensen frequently made news in the past two years for multiple false claims about COVID, which at one point last year got him banned on TikTok over repeated misinformation violations. During a forum last September, he bragged about getting support from Russian state media over his false COVID claims.

The candidate downplayed the Pioneer Press’ report in a Twitter post Sunday while accusing the newspaper of writing “hit pieces.”

“My vaccination status isn’t going to stop a carjacking, lower gas prices, or reduce inflation,” Jensen wrote. “Minnesotans know what impacts them everyday [sic].”

Jensen previously served on Minnesota’s state legislature from 2017-2021. In addition to questionable COVID views, some of Jensen’s other policy ideas include total abortion bans and passing staunch pro-gun ideals. In an interview on the Omnibus Podcast in January, Jensen said he would sign an anti-red flag law if it was presented to him, and he has said that he opposes universal background checks. Recently, he outlined his plan to address rising crime rates in Minnesota, which includes raising prison sentences and creating a specific crime for carjacking.

“Do you feel safer today than you did four years ago?” asked Jensen at a news conference.  “When I ask people across Minnesota — whether it’s in greater Minnesota or in the urban areas — ‘Do you feel safer than you did four years ago?’ they’re saying no.”

The incumbent governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz (D), will be seeking a second term in office.