Republicans see Minnesota fraud scandal as a chance to go on offense in a blue state
Summary
Republicans in Minnesota see a recent fraud scandal involving state government as an opportunity to improve their chances in upcoming elections. They have nominated candidates Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate and Lisa Demuth for governor, both of whom beat more extreme rivals in the primaries. The GOP hopes to use the scandal to criticize Democrats and gain support in a state that has not elected a Republican governor or senator in 20 years.Key Facts
- It has been 20 years since a Republican won a statewide race in Minnesota.
- A large fraud scandal involving stealing hundreds of millions of dollars intended for social programs has emerged in Minnesota’s government.
- Michele Tafoya won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, and Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for governor.
- Both GOP candidates defeated rivals who were considered too extreme for Minnesota voters.
- Republicans are mostly trying to defend narrow majorities in the state legislature but see this scandal as a chance to go on offense.
- President Donald Trump is unpopular in Minnesota, which makes Republican gains challenging.
- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and faces criticism related to the fraud scandal.
- Minnesota’s legislature is closely divided between Democrats and Republicans, showing the state is competitive despite a Democratic winning streak.
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