Minnesota Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan is under fire over the state fraud scandal as Republicans and Angie Craig press the issue.
Peggy Flanagan’s Minnesota Senate campaign is starting under the shadow of the Minnesota fraud scandal, a case Republicans and Democrats alike are now using against the state’s new Democratic nominee. Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and the state’s No. 2 official, won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, but the controversy over fraud in state programs quickly became one of the defining attacks in the race.
The issue has followed Flanagan throughout the campaign because she has served alongside Gov. Tim Walz since both were elected in 2018. Her primary rival, Rep. Angie Craig, made the scandal a central line of attack and accused Flanagan of avoiding responsibility. During a debate on Minnesota Public Radio, Craig said Flanagan “continues to take absolutely no accountability for any of the fraud issues” and added that Flanagan “continues to blame the governor.” Craig also said, “It’s pissing me off.”
Flanagan has pushed back by pointing to Walz’s own handling of the matter. In an interview with the Minnesota Reformer, she said, “The governor has said that the buck stops with him, and he took the lead here,” referring to the fraud scandal. Even so, the issue remained in the background of her victory night, when Flanagan did not mention fraud in her remarks and instead highlighted themes that have defined her campaign, including her pledge to “rip [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] apart” after the deadly shootings in Minnesota earlier this year.
The fraud controversy has become a political liability for Minnesota Democrats because it feeds a broader argument from Republicans that the party has failed to police state government. The scandal also helped sink Walz’s re-election hopes, and GOP strategists are now planning to keep the pressure on Flanagan heading toward Nov. 3. For Republicans, the case is not just about one administration’s mistakes. It is also about making voters question whether Democrats can be trusted to oversee government spending and public programs.
“Minnesota Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan is under fire over the state fraud scandal as Republicans and Angie Craig press the issue.”
Flanagan’s victory came as the progressive wing of the Democratic Party gained another win over a more moderate rival, but the fraud issue shows how quickly a primary triumph can turn into a general-election burden. The same contest that elevated her also handed opponents a ready-made attack line. That leaves Flanagan trying to balance progressive energy with questions about accountability in state government, an issue that does not fade easily once it reaches a statewide race.
Republicans are banking on former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya to capitalize on that opening. Tafoya, who won the GOP nomination, has already seized on the scandal in campaign appearances and in a statement to a Minnesota Fox affiliate, saying Minnesotans are “fed up” and “exhausted with this fraud.” She said voters need accountability and promised to make Minnesota “more livable, more affordable, more safe, and without fraud.”
National Republicans are also watching the race closely. Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said on CNN that Minnesota gives Republicans “a real shot” with Tafoya, even though the state is not on the committee’s target list of eight battleground seats. GOP operatives argue Tafoya’s profile and moderate image could help her build a broader coalition, especially because of her background as a well-known television reporter.
Tafoya has also taken a specific position on abortion in an open letter to Minnesotans. She said she would oppose taxpayer-funded abortions, support conservative, strict-constructionist judges, and stay “completely aligned with President Donald Trump on this issue.” At the same time, she said she does not back an outright abortion ban and supports reasonable access in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The Minnesota fraud scandal now sits at the center of a race that could test whether Democrats can hold one of their strongest states while Republicans try to turn a state-level failure into a national warning sign for voters.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the fraud scandal hurting Peggy Flanagan’s campaign?
Critics say the scandal happened while she was serving as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, alongside Gov. Tim Walz. Angie Craig has accused her of taking no accountability and blaming the governor.
What did Flanagan say about responsibility for the scandal?
Flanagan said Walz had said “the buck stops with him” and that he took the lead on the issue. She did not mention the scandal in her victory speech.
How is Michele Tafoya using the issue in the Senate race?
Tafoya has said Minnesotans are tired of the fraud and need accountability. She is tying the scandal to her broader message about making the state safer and more affordable.
Why are national Republicans paying attention to Minnesota?
Sen. Tim Scott said Republicans have “a real shot” with Tafoya in Minnesota. GOP strategists believe her profile and moderate lean could help her appeal beyond the party base.
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