The Republican and Democratic candidates vying to replace Minnesota’ s outgoing governor sparred in their final debate Wednesday over the massive fraud scandal that has unfolded in the state, health care and rising gas prices.
“A vote for Amy Klobuchar is a vote for a Tim Walz third term,” Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth said in her opening statement after painting Democratic Sen. as the “status quo” candidate in a “state in crisis” over the $ 9 billion fraud scandal.
Klobuchar pushed back in her opening statement, saying, “I don’t like the status quo. I hate the status quo.”
The first question of the debate focused on fraud, a recurring topic throughout the night, and what each candidate would do to combat it.
“Fraud unchecked here in the state of Minnesota has gone far too long, and it has finally come to the surface,” Demuth said. “The thing that I will do on day one is I am going to be firing all commissioners, choosing new commissioners that are expert in their field, that will carry out the accountability and transparency that is needed in our state. We have to change the culture of fraud.”
Klobuchar attempted to distance herself from Walz when addressing the issue.
“The fraud is simply unacceptable and as a former prosecutor, I’m going to send those fraudsters to jail,” Klobuchar said. “Tim Walz should have caught the fraud earlier and he should have done more. He said it himself. And by the way, when my opponent references Tim Walz, I will say one thing. He is not seeking a third term. I am the one up here.”
Fraud came up again later in the debate, with Demuth criticizing Klobuchar’s close relationship with Walz.
“You have not heard my opponent differ from one policy bill that Tim Walz, who she calls an incredible governor, has allowed to go forward,” Demuth said. “I would love to hear one bill, one area, child care, fraudulent funding. I would love to hear that. If she is separating herself specifically from Tim Walz, Tim Walz allowed the child care fraud and other fraud here in the state of Minnesota to explode to $9 billion, never firing any of his commissioners or agency employees. But yet you have someone standing here tonight that is supporting everything from the incredible governor, as she has said he is.”
Klobuchar responded, “Rewind the tape on this debate please; you will see exactly how I said I differed from Tim Walz.”
In another tense moment, the candidates turned to rising gas prices, with Klobuchar attempting to link Demuth to the policies of the Trump administration.
“I can tell you the fastest way to bring down your gas prices, and that is to stop this War in Iran,” Klobuchar said. “That is it, beginning, middle and end. And when you look at what my opponent brings up, when we had a debate earlier this week, she actually brought up and blamed it on the Keystone pipeline. Then she blamed the health care costs on Barack Obama. I don’t know what will be next. Maybe Thomas Jefferson, but what I know is that Minnesotans understand what’s happened at the pump.”
Demuth blamed high costs in Minnesota on the Minnesota DemocraticâÂÂFarmerâÂÂLabor Party’s (DFL) control of state government.
“We can talk about that Keystone pipeline that my opponent has voted against. That would have brought in 830,000 barrels of oil. It would have helped with the supply that we have here, yet she voted against it,” Demuth said. “But you have to ask yourself, why are things so expensive here in Minnesota They are expensive because of overspending by a one party control in 2023 and 2024, I will bring down prices. I will right-size our state budget and make sure that you can afford your lives, that you can grow, thrive, and businesses will be coming to Minnesota to provide the jobs that are needed. It’s common sense, and that’s the decision that you have to make as you’re looking to this election this year.”
As Minnesotans continue to grapple w
