Lisa Demuth keeps focus on fraud, ties Klobuchar to Minnesota’s fraud scandal

Demuth, who gave her first press conference since winning the GOP nomination last week, said she would implement the proposals in her first 90 days as governor as part of an updated fraud prevention plan. Fraud in Minnesota’s social safety net programs has exploded in recent years and has caused intense national scrutiny of state Democratic leaders. Backlash to the fraud scandal led to Gov. Tim Walz terminating his bid for a third term earlier this year.

Demuth sought to tie Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee for governor U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar to the fraud in Minnesota’s public programs, even though the majority of the theft came from state-administered programs.

“Fraud was exploding here in the state of Minnesota (and) Amy Klobuchar continually praised Tim Walz as a great governor and an incredible leader,” Demuth said. “Now she is Gov. Walz’s handpicked candidate to replace him. That is not what Minnesota needs.”

The House speaker also criticized Klobuchar’s lack of action and public statements about fraud since the scandal became public. Demuth’s campaign printed out over 1,000 press releases from Klobuchar’s office from 2022 to 2025, and placed the tall stack of papers on a stool. Demuth said there was not one mention of fraud.

“This is not taking fraud seriously. Three years, 1,000 press releases, no mention of the taxpayer fraud that was happening here,” said Ryan Wilson, Demuth’s running mate.

Klobuchar also has proposed a fraud prevention plan that includes a top-to-bottom audit of state government, a “do not pay” database for providers convicted of fraud and creating anti-fraud units in state agencies.

When asked about Demuth’s attempts to tie her to fraud in a WCCO Radio interview last week, Klobuchar refuted the criticism and said when she first heard of the fraud she pushed the Department of Justice to allocate more prosecutors to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which then charged over 70 people in the Feeding Our Future scheme.

The DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom released a statement after Demuth’s press conference noting that former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who prosecuted the Feeding Our Future scheme, is supporting Klobuchar’s campaign and said Demuth’s plan is “empty political rhetoric.”

“Their records are clear: Amy Klobuchar fought for and delivered more prosecutors to go after the fraud, while Lisa Demuth has spent her many years in state government on political posturing instead,” Carlbom said. 

Demuth’s fraud prevention plan — which was light on details — includes banning “all transfers of fraud to foreign countries,” she said. It’s unclear how she would implement such a ban, but she said she would work with the Legislature to get it done. Demuth also said she would pass legislation so the state can more easily recoup the dollars lost to fraud and seize a fraudster’s assets, though again, it’s unclear what that legislation is.

Demuth also touted legislation she shepherded earlier this year that created an independent office of inspector general and allocating millions to update technology in Minnesota’s counties, which administer many public programs.

As much as Demuth and Republicans would like to make the election about fraud, however, she’s also tied to an unpopular Republican presidential administration.

Reporters asked Demuth to comment about court documents showing that federal investigators engaged in a wide-ranging surveillance effort of labor unions and progressive groups during Operation Metro Surge. Demuth refused to answer.

“We are absolutely focused on what is going on here in the state of Minnesota. As I mentioned: fraud, affordability, education. That’s where my focus is,” Demuth said.

Reporters pressed her on whether she had thoughts on the government surveilling Minnesotans.

“I’m going with what I hear from Minnesotans right now, which is top of mind: fraud,” she said.