Minnesota’s final gubernatorial debate turned into a referendum on fraud, as Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth clashed over the $9 billion scandal that has defined the state’s politics.
The debate on Wednesday night was the only scheduled televised meeting before November 3. Fraud dominated from the very first question, with Demuth vowing to “fire all commissioners” on day one and Klobuchar promising, as a former prosecutor, to “send those fraudsters to jail.”
“A vote for Amy Klobuchar is a vote for a Tim Walz third term,” Demuth said in her opening statement, painting Minnesota as a “state in crisis.” Klobuchar pushed back hard: “I don’t like the status quo. I hate the status quo,” while conceding that “Tim Walz should have caught the fraud earlier and he should have done more.”
A historic race
Regardless of the outcome, Minnesota will elect its first female governor on November 3. A Demuth victory would additionally make her the state’s first Black governor, adding historic weight to an already consequential contest.
The race has drawn national attention, with President Trump endorsing Demuth after she defeated his original pick, Mike Lindell, in the August primary. The national spotlight has only intensified as the fraud investigations have widened.
What to watch in the final 12 days
Expect the fraud argument to intensify, with both campaigns pouring resources into the Twin Cities media market. Our breakdown of the national sprint shows how the ex-presidents are spending these final days, and Minnesota News Network’s debate recap captures a race defined by a single word: accountability.
November 3 will render the verdict.
