WATCH: Top 3 clashes in heated MN governor debate as Walz's legacy looms large: 'Change the culture'
The Republican and Democratic candidates vying to replace Minnesota' s outgoing governor Tim Walz 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.Amy Klobuchar 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."WALZ'S 'EXIT INTERVIEW' REFLECTING ON HIS TENURE SPARKS LAWMAKER DEBATE ABOUT HIS LEGACY: 'NEVER SERIOUS'Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz announces that he would not be seeking reelection Monday, January 5, 2026, at a press conference at the State Capitol in St.
Paul, Minn.Walz said that he "came to the conclusion that I canât give a political campaign my all." The governor took no questions from reporters at the event.
The governorâs announcement comes as Minnesota is confronting one of the largest social services fraud scandals in its history.Federal prosecutors have documented hundreds of millions of dollarsâ worth of fraud in state autism services, housing and meals programs, among others.
(Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)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...