Sen. Amy Klobuchar wins Minnesota governor's race, CBS News projects
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth. She will succeed Gov. Tim Walz, who announced in January he would not seek a third term.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is set to become Minnesota's first female governor following her victory over Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, according to CBS News projections. The Democratic senator will succeed Governor Tim Walz, the two-term Democrat who recently decided against seeking a third term. Walz had been under scrutiny for alleged fraud in state programs and announced his decision not to run in January, paving the way for Klobuchar's entry into the race.
The election was significantly influenced by a fraud scandal within state-run social services programs, with dozens of individuals convicted of stealing millions of dollars. Federal prosecutors estimate the total could exceed $9 billion. The cases gained widespread attention after a viral video featuring a right-wing influencer went viral late last year, attracting the focus of President Trump.
Republicans have pointed to the state's Somali community, as most defendants belong to that group, a point that has been criticized by local officials, including Governor Walz.
Sen. Klobuchar, who has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2006, has won each of her Senate races by double digits. She briefly ran for president in 2020 but suspended her campaign before Super Tuesday and endorsed Joe Biden. Klobuchar's campaign for governor has focused on lowering costs for Minnesotans, including healthcare, child care, and housing.
She also aims to audit state government and invest in technology to prevent fraud, highlighting her legal background as Hennepin County's head prosecutor. Her running mate for lieutenant governor is Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer.
Demuth, the top Republican in state government, was first elected to the House in 2018 and became speaker under a power-sharing agreement following the 2024 evenly split chamber elections. She would have been the state's first Black governor. Demuth secured the Republican primary in August, narrowly beating out MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls.
Democrats have pointed out that Demuth sought Trump's endorsement before Lindell and Qualls received his support. Klobuchar's campaign has raised over $15.5 million, while Demuth has raised $3.6 million, according to campaign finance records.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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