Minnesota's Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth squared off Monday in their first gubernatorial debate, a chamber-hosted forum that quickly turned into a proxy fight over outgoing Governor Tim Walz's record and the state's sprawling fraud scandal.
The hourlong event, sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, saw Demuth press for a sharp break from the status quo under Walz, while Klobuchar sought to carve out her own identity as a reform-minded Democrat. “We definitely need to look at what is impacting us here in the state of Minnesota because of failed Democrat leadership for far too long,” Demuth said. She accused Klobuchar of never distancing herself from Walz, arguing that his policies “have increased the prices and made it harder to do business.”
Klobuchar fired back, “I could list a number of other ways I’m different than Tim Walz. I know you wish you were debating Tim Walz, but I’m the one here right now up here.” Walz, who was the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, abandoned his bid for a third term earlier this year amid scrutiny over a massive fraud scandal that has roiled state agencies.
The senator, a former prosecutor, asserted that she “would have caught that fraud” and “done something about it” had she been governor. When Demuth pressed her on why she didn’t do more, Klobuchar detailed her efforts to secure additional Justice Department resources during the federal probe.
Klobuchar enters the race as a heavy favorite. She easily won her primary, and Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor since 2010. The state has backed Democratic presidential candidates by single digits in each of the last three elections, including rejecting President Trump. Still, Republicans see an opening amid the fraud scandal and voter frustration over costs.
Demuth emerged from a crowded GOP field that initially included Trump-endorsed businessman Mike Lindell, the “MyPillow Guy” who was found by a judge to have defamed election technology company Smartmatic. The Cook Political Report rates the race as “solid Democratic,” while Decision Desk HQ calls it “likely Democratic.” Polling averages give Klobuchar an 8-point lead, though the margin has tightened slightly.
Both candidates ruled out tax increases as they outlined plans to balance the state budget and ease financial pressures on families. Klobuchar argued the state needs “to do something about these tariff taxes,” suggesting subnational agreements with Canadian provinces—a topic she has championed as governors and mayors increasingly engage in foreign policy. Demuth has been more cautious on tariffs, declining to condemn them outright.
On technology, both candidates endorsed guardrails for artificial intelligence and responsible development, reflecting the growing debate over AI data centers and their political implications.
The debate also touched on healthcare. Demuth touted her vote for the 2020 Alec Smith insulin bill, named after a Minnesota man who died after rationing insulin. But Klobuchar countered that Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith-Holt, has endorsed her, saying, “She said that my opponent, and this is a mom of a kid that died, that my opponent did not help when it comes to capping insulin. So let’s not throw that name around without being honest about the real bill that they wanted to pass.”
The two rivals will meet again Wednesday for a second debate, with the race now entering its final stretch.
