Senate Candidate Tafoya Blasts Minnesota Leadership Over $10B Fraud Scandal

Michele Tafoya, a Republican candidate for Minnesota’s open Senate seat, has accused Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of turning a blind eye to a massive fraud scandal that could potentially shift the political landscape in the traditionally Democratic state.

The former sports broadcaster, now 61, is campaigning to replace retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith in what has become a highly competitive race. At the center of her criticism is a nearly $10 billion fraud scheme involving daycare facilities, food aid programs, and health clinics that allegedly operated unchecked under the current state administration.

“Fraud is certainly at the forefront” of this election, Tafoya told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “I think that Tim Walz and Keith Ellison are both to blame for this fraud. Look, they’re at the top. And as one very revered former United States senator told me, that amount of money cannot change hands without people knowing.”

The scandal, which has drawn national attention, became the subject of a congressional hearing where House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) concluded that Walz and Ellison were aware of the fraud but “repeatedly failed to act.” Tafoya claims the officials “laughed it off” during their testimony before the committee in March.

“When you are the governor, the buck stops with you,” she added.

The Attorney General’s office has pushed back against these allegations. Brian Evans, a spokesperson for Ellison, defended the administration’s record on combating fraud, noting that the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has “secured over 340 convictions and regularly ranks as one of the most efficient team of fraud fighters in the nation.”

“Attorney General Ellison is currently leading the charge to pass a bipartisan bill to give his fraud control unit more resources and authority to go after fraudsters and protect our tax dollars,” Evans said.

Minnesota has not elected a Republican senator since 2008, but Tafoya believes the widespread theft of public funds has created an opportunity for the GOP to flip the seat. She claims residents are “angry” and “fed up and disillusioned” with the current leadership.

Tafoya also connected the fraud scandal to other issues, including recent charges against a noncitizen for voter fraud in Minnesota. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” she said. “For them to say that we had perfect elections, when they have just proven that they are willing to lie through their teeth about where our money is going, is laughable.”

Before facing off against a Democratic opponent in November, Tafoya must first navigate a crowded Republican primary. Her likely general election opponents would be either Democratic Representative Angie Craig or Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, both of whom Tafoya claims are trying to “out-left” each other to appeal to the party’s base.

Tafoya appears to be in a strong financial position for the primary race. According to Federal Election Commission filings, she raised just over $2 million between January and March, with nearly $1.9 million still on hand. This outpaces her Republican rivals and even Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, who has raised $1.4 million with $1.1 million available. However, Representative Craig maintains a significant financial advantage with $4.9 million on hand after raising $2.5 million.

While Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who chairs the Senate Republican campaign committee, has endorsed Tafoya, former President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in on the Minnesota race. Tafoya has indicated she would welcome Trump’s support but emphasized that her fundraising success speaks to her campaign’s viability regardless.

“I’m going to let him speak for himself on any endorsement,” Tafoya said. “We would happily take it. But right now, we are the candidate that has raised the most money by far in the Republican senatorial race in Minnesota, and we think that speaks very highly of our chances.”