Overview
- Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth in the Nov. 3 election to become Minnesota’s first woman governor, a race called late Tuesday by major outlets.
- Democrat Peggy Flanagan won the open U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first Native American woman elected to the Senate and keeping the seat in Democratic hands.
- A multi‑year fraud investigation into state‑run social services that began in 2022 reshaped the campaign season, produced dozens of convictions and prompted Gov. Tim Walz to withdraw from the governor’s race.
- Klobuchar entered late, built a large fundraising lead, centered her campaign on auditing state agencies and prosecuting fraud, while Demuth ran on an anti‑fraud, affordability and public safety platform.
- Voters’ decisions leave incoming leaders facing immediate tasks: launch statewide audits, staff a new administration, resolve fallout from federal immigration enforcement operations, and address budget and service challenges tied to the scandal.