<sod>In 2011, Minnesota Republican chairman [[Tony Sutton]] abruptly departed among controversy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/01/19/minnesota-republican-party-finances}}</ref>. Shortridge was elected by 350 party delegates at a meeting on December 31 in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota]] over two other candidates.<ref name="publicradio1"/>  The [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] faced a debt of over $2 million at the time of Shortridge's election, which he managed to reduce significantly during his first year as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicsinminnesota.com/2012/12/mngop-debt-shrinks-but-turmoil-persists/ |title=MNGOP debt shrinks, but turmoil persists |publisher=Politics in Minnesota |date= |accessdate=2013-03-22}}</ref> He has insisted that he would only serve out the remainder of Sutton's term which expires on April 6, 2013, when party delegates will select a new chair.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brucato |first=Cyndy |url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/03/farewell-event-gop-chair-pat-shortridge-part-tribute-part-party-critique |title=Farewell event for GOP Chair Pat Shortridge is part tribute, part party critique |publisher=MinnPost |date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2013-03-22}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Keith Downey (politician)|Keith Downey]].<ref name="chair">{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/201789721.html | title=Minnesota Republican Party elects a new chair | work=[[Star Tribune]] | date=April 6, 2013 | accessdate=April 6, 2013 | author=Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.}}</ref><eod>
<sod>In 2011, Minnesota Republican chairman [[Tony Sutton]] abruptly departed among controversy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/01/19/minnesota-republican-party-finances}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/gop-activists-are-questioning-state-chairman/121678049/}}</ref>. Shortridge was elected by 350 party delegates at a meeting on December 31 in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota]] over two other candidates.<ref name="publicradio1"/>  The [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] faced a debt of over $2 million at the time of Shortridge's election, which he managed to reduce significantly during his first year as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicsinminnesota.com/2012/12/mngop-debt-shrinks-but-turmoil-persists/ |title=MNGOP debt shrinks, but turmoil persists |publisher=Politics in Minnesota |date= |accessdate=2013-03-22}}</ref> He has insisted that he would only serve out the remainder of Sutton's term which expires on April 6, 2013, when party delegates will select a new chair.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brucato |first=Cyndy |url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/03/farewell-event-gop-chair-pat-shortridge-part-tribute-part-party-critique |title=Farewell event for GOP Chair Pat Shortridge is part tribute, part party critique |publisher=MinnPost |date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2013-03-22}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Keith Downey (politician)|Keith Downey]].<ref name="chair">{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/201789721.html | title=Minnesota Republican Party elects a new chair | work=[[Star Tribune]] | date=April 6, 2013 | accessdate=April 6, 2013 | author=Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.}}</ref><eod>