Reactions to groping allegations against U.S. Al Franken, D-Minn., came in swiftly — and strongly — Thursday.

Here are some.

REP. KEITH ELLISON

U.S. Rep, Keith Ellison, D-Minneapolis:

“​It must have taken her tremendous courage​ to make this kind of statement. I’m saddened by it. But, you know, we now live in a time that, thankfully, women can feel safe to come forward and talk about what happened to them. … It’s painful when it’s a dear friend, somebody you admire and has been great to you — and Al has been all those things to me. I admire him tremendously. But that doesn’t mean that this kind of thing is OK.”

MNGOP CHAIR: HE SHOULD RESIGN

Jennifer Carnahan, chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, said Franken should resign. She said:

“Today’s allegations of sexual harassment committed by Senator Al Franken are deeply disturbing. Based on these accusations, and the accompanying photographic evidence, I am calling on Senator Franken to resign his Senate seat. The people of Minnesota deserve better representation than this in the United States Senate.

“Al Franken’s weak, equivocating apology isn’t going to cut it. To quote Senator Franken just yesterday, ‘Sometimes when you don’t get a joke, it’s because it wasn’t a joke.’ ”

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR: ‘I STRONGLY CONDEMN’

U.S. Sen Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.:

“This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden. I strongly condemn this behavior and the Senate Ethics Committee must open an investigation. This is another example of why we need to change work environments and reporting practices across the nation, including in Congress.”

REP. BETTY McCOLLUM: ‘DISTURBING’

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul:

“The Senate Ethics Committee should conduct a formal inquiry into the disturbing allegations made against Senator Franken. The account and photo released today can only be described as completely inappropriate.”

GOV. MARK DAYTON: ‘SHOCKED’

Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat and former U.S. senator:

“I was shocked to hear these reports this morning. I will defer to the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee to investigate and act on this matter. I know from serving in the Senate that the Committee has a well-established and highly-respected process for reviewing situations like this and making the right decisions.”

SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN: ‘BEHAVIOR ISN’T OK’

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said in a statement that she’s “glad to see that Sen. Franken immediately apologized.”

“This kind of behavior isn’t OK, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat, and I support an Ethics Committee investigation,” Baldwin said.

ERIN MURPHY: ‘LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND STEP ASIDE’

State Rep. Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, who’s running for governor:

‘Ms Tweeden has said that Sen. Franken assaulted her. I believe her. … It’s not ok. It’s never ok. And by doing anything but saying so we are condoning it and sending the message that such conduct really is ok for a person in power. I await Senator Franken’s full explanation but I also believe he should lead by example and step aside.”

REBECCA OTTO: ‘RESIGN … SET AN EXAMPLE’

State Auditor Rebecca Otto, a DFL candidate for governor:

“Al Franken is my friend, but we can’t have a double standard. … I believe it’s in the best interest of Minnesotans and of women everywhere for Senator Franken to resign, and to set an example to powerful men across America that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.”

ANGIE CRAIG: ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’

Angie Craig, a candidate for Congress, said in a statement we should have “zero tolerance regardless of political party.” She’s taking action.

“As of today, I have donated $15,000 in campaign contributions received from Senator Franken during the 2016 and 2018 election cycles to 360 Communities in Burnsville, which operates sexual assault survivor services, domestic violence shelters, and food shelves for our neighbors,” Craig said in a statement.

IOWA LEGISLATOR: ALSO DONATING FRANKEN CONTRIBUTION

Iowa state Rep. Abby Finkenauer is also rejecting Franken’s donation to her campaign.

“Leeann Tweeden’s account of her experiences with the Senator are clearly sexual assault, not a joke, and she is incredibly brave for speaking out,” Finkenauer said in a statement. “I’ve decided to donate Senator Franken’s donation to my campaign to the Riverview Center, a non-profit in Iowa that helps individuals affected by sexual assault.”

CHUCK SCHUMER: ‘NEVER ACCEPTABLE’

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s statement:

“Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated. I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment.”

JASON LEWIS: ‘EXTREMELY TROUBLING’

U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis issued the following statement:

“As I have said many times, the whirlwind of sexual harassment—and now even sexual assault—incidents by people in positions of public trust is extremely troubling. Suffice it to say, anyone who commits sexual assault isn’t fit for public office. I continue to believe the best lesson we can learn from all of this is to recommit ourselves to restoring respect for women—in fact, for everyone, in society.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.