Tad Jude

Thaddeus Victor Jude (born December 13, 1951) is an American Republican politician and lawyer from Minnesota. Jude was a candidate in the 2022 Minnesota Attorney General election, but withdrew and endorsed Jim Schultz on May 13, 2022, after being eliminated at the convention. He subsequently ran for Hennepin County Attorney that same year, finishing 4th in the primary.

First elected to office in 1972, Jude has previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and in the Minnesota Senate. He also served on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners from 1989 to 1993 and was a Minnesota District Court Judge from 2001 to 2011.

Jude ran for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2024. He lost the election to Kelly Morrison. In September 2025, Jude announced his candidacy for Minnesota Secretary of State in 2026.

Early life Thaddeus Victor Jude was born on December 13, 1951, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He is the oldest of 11 children of Ruth (Huisentruit) Jude and Victor N. Jude. He served in the United States Army Reserves from 1971 to 1977. Jude went to the University of St. Thomas and William Mitchell College of Law. He is a nephew of doctor James Jude, who was one of the developers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Political and legal career

Jude was the youngest person ever elected to the Minnesota Legislature, elected at the age of 20 when he won election in 1972 and was sworn in at the age of 21 the following January. His father, Victor N. Jude, also served in the Minnesota Legislature. In 1994, Jude ran for Minnesota's 6th congressional district. However, he lost the election to Bill Luther by 0.24%. He ran again in 1996, but lost to Luther by 11.82%. Jude was elected District Court Judge to Minnesota's 10th Judicial District in 2010, from a field of 24 candidates. He was reelected without an opponent in 2016. He served as a judge on Minnesota's 10th Judicial District Court for ten years.

In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for Hennepin County Attorney, losing to Mary Moriarty.

Legal experience Jude is a 1977 graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. His employment includes legal work at the law firms of Jude and Guenningsman; Magsam and Harwig; and Trimble and Associates. He practiced workers' compensation law for the Special Compensation Fund. As a Minnesota legislator, he was chair of the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Civil Justice division. He has served on the Hennepin County Law Library Board and as president of the Richard T. Oakes Inn of Court. His judicial education includes Law and Economics, Antonin Scalia Law School, and George Mason University.