[1] After graduating from Macalester College, Shortridge became an intern, then paid staffer, of Texas Representative Dick Armey,[1] eventually working for him for eleven years.
[1][3] After the brief position at Enron, Shortridge returned to Minnesota to work for Representative Mark Kennedy for five years.
[4] In 2011, Minnesota Republican chairman Tony Sutton abruptly departed among controversy.
[4] 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.
[7] 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.