Demuth Vows to Fire Every State Commissioner on Day One as Klobuchar Defends Her Record on Minnesota Fraud

Minnesota's governor's race came down to one subject on Wednesday: the fraud scandals that have shaken state government. Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar met for their second debate of the week.

Demuth's pledge. "Fraud unchecked here in the state of Minnesota has gone far too long, and it has finally come to the surface," Demuth said. Her first act as governor, she said, would be firing all state commissioners and replacing them with people who are experts in their fields. "We have to change the culture of fraud," she said.

Klobuchar's answer. Klobuchar called the plan "absurd." She said she contacted U.S. Attorney Andy Luger after the fraud came to light and asked what his office needed. "He said, 'I need more prosecutors,'" she said, adding that she called the highest levels of the Justice Department and got them. She also said Gov. Tim Walz "should have caught the fraud earlier and he should have done more." She tried to separate herself from him, and she criticized Demuth for not breaking clearly with President Trump: "We don't need a rubber stamp of Donald Trump in the governor's office."

The counter. Demuth said Klobuchar had named no specific policies on which she would break with Walz, whom Klobuchar has called an "incredible governor."

Beyond fraud. Both candidates have ruled out tax increases. Demuth wants to rein in spending and regulations. Klobuchar stressed lowering costs for health care, housing and child care. Fox notes the race will produce Minnesota's first female governor, and a Demuth win would also make her the state's first Black governor.

What the report does not say. It gives no polling and no figure for the size of the fraud. Both candidates' claims about what they would do are campaign statements, not results.