The state’s top office is up for grabs today, as Democratic Farmer-Labor candidate Amy Klobuchar and Republican candidate Lisa Demuth vie to become Minnesota’s next governor.
Either will make history by becoming the state’s first female governor. Demuth could also become the state’s first Black governor and governor of color.
Klobuchar, a four-term U.S. senator, is highly favored to win the race and leads in all polls.
“These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of [the Trump] administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state,” Klobuchar said in her campaign announcement video.
Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, is hoping that the numerous social services fraud scandals that occurred under DFL Gov. Tim Walz’s watch will sink Klobuchar’s advantage.
“I’ll never bow to the radical mob, and I’ll never apologize for standing up for common sense,” Demuth said in her campaign announcement video.
Both candidates have made fraud prevention pitches key parts of their platforms. Klobuchar’s plan involves modernizing state government IT systems and conducting a “top-to-bottom” audit of all state agencies. Demuth’s plan involves firing all state commissioners and deputy commissioners, and directing all state agencies to hire “the best forensic accountants on the market.”
Both are seeking to replace Walz, who dropped his bid in January for a third term amid the state’s fraud scandals. That same month, Operation Metro Surge kicked into high gear, with an estimated 3,000 federal immigration agents swarming the Twin Cities and state. Immigration agents killed two citizen observers, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and engaged in widespread racial profiling.
The effects of Operation Metro Surge are expected to play a role in the election. During Metro Surge, Klobuchar called for the federal agents to immediately leave Minnesota.
Demuth hasn’t said much about the operation, but did sign a letter in support of it with other Minnesota Republicans in December 2015, when the operation was in its early weeks.
Klobuchar stepped into the governor’s race shortly after Walz dropped out. She did not face any serious opposition in the DFL primary in August.
Demuth surprised many by winning the Republican primary comfortably over MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who earned President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Green Party candidate Steven Young is also running for governor.
Check back for updates tonight from Klobuchar and Demuth’s watch parties.
Polling places close at 8 p.m. Election results will be updated here approximately every 10 minutes throughout the evening.
