Minnesota Republican unsure if dinosaurs existed, argues there should be one race

Matthew Zinda, a Republican candidate for the Minnesota state Senate, has a history of taking bizarre, controversial stances, including questioning the existence of dinosaurs.

When asked if he believed in dinosaurs during a Facebook exchange from 2020, Zinda argued that “people are quick to believe what is written, as long as it fits their narrative.” Zinda also said he believes that the Earth was created 6,000 years ago because of the timeline in the Holy Bible.

There are plenty of fossilized bones, eggs and footprints proving that dinosaurs existed millions of years ago.

Zinda is one of eight candidates vying for the Republican nomination in next Tuesday’s primary election for Senate District 6. A special election was called to fill a vacancy left by former state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who was arrested in a child prostitution sting in March. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will face DFL candidate Denise Slipy in the general election on April 29.

In a voter guide, Zinda also made implications that having one race or ethnicity is necessary for prosperity. When asked about the top issues facing Minnesota, Zinda argued that countries with 99% of the same demographic are better off than Minnesota’s diverse population (Zinda is white.)

“At no time or place in history has anything remotely resembling a utopia ever materialized by forcing people of vastly different demographics to live and work and play together,” Zinda answered. “Somalia is 99% Black Sunni Muslim, very homogenous, and they have survived for millenia. Minneapolis is very diverse, and it burned to the ground in 150 years.”

Zinda continued by calling for one race with a “universal set of anti-cultural norms.”

“Soon, instead of Black, White, Red, and Yellow people, all with a unique identity, we will have one race with one universal set of anti-cultural norms, ripping off everyone’s cultural identity. Natives would agree, assimilation is not the answer, as they lost their identity to diversity. It’s not merely the White race that wants pluralism (too cowardly to demand it); no one wants to lose their identity.”

Zinda did not immediate respond for comment on the Facebook post or voter guide.