Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth confronted each other over Minnesota’s significant fraud scandal during their first debate to succeed Governor Tim Walz. This race is occurring amid a welfare assistance fraud scandal in the state, drawing national attention for a year and leading Walz to forego his 2026 re-election bid. The schemes, related to pandemic-era social services, have diverted millions, possibly billions, from federal and state programs.
Demuth aims to be the first Republican to win a gubernatorial race in the state in two decades. Current polls show Klobuchar with a slight lead, and the Fox News Power Rankings rate the race as Likely Democrat. During the debate, Demuth consistently turned the focus to the fraud issue.
We’ve allowed a culture of waste and fraud for too long and must change this course,Demuth stated, associating Klobuchar with Walz, who accepted full responsibility for the scandal.
Klobuchar countered by saying, I would have caught that fraud. I would have taken action. We come from very different backgrounds. Regarding Demuth’s questioning about her absence from certain hearings, Klobuchar clarified her long-standing vigilance over fraud issues in numerous Senate Judicial Committee hearings.
Demuth proposed dismissing all state commissioners as a fresh start post-scandal. The candidates also debated healthcare, with Demuth criticizing Klobuchar’s support for ObamaCare, attributing rising healthcare costs in the state to it. Our healthcare costs have increased nationwide and in Minnesota due to the Affordable Care Act, Demuth argued.
Both candidates agreed on avoiding tax increases. Tax hikes are off the table for me, Demuth affirmed. Klobuchar added, I’ve made clear I’m not increasing taxes, and I’ve challenged my own party on this in the past.
Klobuchar announced her campaign three weeks after Walz dropped his bid. She has a history of electoral success, winning four Senate elections by notable margins. Before the Senate, she served as Hennepin County attorney. Demuth, first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018, has been GOP leader and speaker. In the primary, she defeated My Pillow founder Mike Lindell by 11 points, who was endorsed by Trump before the August primary.