Klobuchar Wins Historic Minnesota Gubernatorial Race Over Demuth

UPDATE - follow-up to Sen. Amy Klobuchar wins Minnesota governor's race, CBS News projects: Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth to become Minnesota's first female governor. She will take over from two‑term Democrat Tim Walz, who announced in January he would not run for a third term. The contest was dominated by a state‑wide fraud scandal that saw dozens convicted of stealing hundreds of millions from social‑service programs, with federal prosecutors estimating losses could exceed $9 billion. The scandal gained national attention after a right‑wing influencer’s video went viral and former President Donald Trump highlighted the issue, targeting the state's Somali community where many defendants are from. Klobuchar, a U.S. senator since 2006, promised to cut health‑care, child‑care and housing costs, audit state agencies and boost technology to stop fraud. She also pledged to improve school scores, reduce barriers to homebuilding and limit screen time in schools. Her lieutenant‑governor pick is Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer. Demuth, who would have been Minnesota's first Black governor, ran on a platform centered on fraud prevention, crime reduction and education reform, hoping the scandal would break the GOP’s losing streak in governor races. Mid‑October campaign finance records show Klobuchar raised over $15.5 million, far outpacing Demuth’s $3.6 million. ## Context The election reflects growing voter concern over fraud in state programs and marks a shift toward a Democrat with a law‑enforcement background leading the state.