Lisa Demuth defeated six other candidates in the Republican primary for governor of Minnesota on Aug. 11. Demuth, Mike Lindell, and Kendall Qualls led in endorsements and media attention. Incumbent Tim Walz (D) did not run for re-election.
A welfare fraud investigation, Republican convention election voting irregularities, and electability were central themes in the primary.
According to The New York Times, "Scores of people in Minnesota have been accused of stealing up to hundreds of millions of dollars from state programs meant to help the poor and vulnerable." Republicans, including Demuth, Lindell, and Qualls, claimed the state's Democratic leadership enabled the welfare fraud. All three campaigned against fraud while saying they were the candidate best positioned to win election in a state that hadn't voted for a Republican governor since 2006, U.S. senator since 2002, and U.S. president since 1972.
