Walz Challenged Over Wasteful Spending, Fraud In Governor’s Race

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is under intensifying scrutiny in Minnesota as accusations of waste, fraud, and reckless spending dog his administration ahead of what could be a difficult reelection fight.

Republicans have rallied behind state Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), who announced in August that she will run for governor. Robbins says her campaign will prioritize financial security, education reform, and economic development — with an aggressive focus on rooting out fraud in Walz’s administration.

“I love Minnesota. My husband and I were blessed to raise our three girls here and build our lives here,” Robbins told the St. Cloud Times. “Unfortunately, under (Gov.) Tim Walz, we’ve seen the state really go into decline.”

Fraud and Waste Under Walz

Robbins, who chairs the Legislature’s Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, says she would overhaul the leadership of Minnesota’s key state agencies.

“We will bring in all new commissioners, and we will make sure that the internal controls (are used),” Robbins said. “We will hold agencies accountable for actually doing kind of the basics that would happen in any private sector business.”

Her call comes as federal authorities investigate staggering levels of fraud under Walz’s watch. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson is reviewing corruption in the state’s Housing Stabilization Program, and early estimates suggest total fraud across state programs could top $1 billion — including the now-infamous Feeding Our Future scandal.

Soaring Deficit, Soaring Spending

On top of fraud, Walz faces criticism for presiding over a looming $6 billion budget deficit. Republicans argue his solution has been the same every time: raise taxes, squeeze services for the most vulnerable, and reward illegal immigrants with taxpayer-funded benefits.

“With a looming $6 billion deficit, we need to get Minnesota’s finances in shape,” the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus said in March.

They blasted Walz’s budget priorities:

• Higher taxes
• Cuts to essential services for disabled and vulnerable Minnesotans
• Hundreds of millions diverted to provide health care and benefits for undocumented migrants

Republicans countered with their “Cut the Waste” plan, which would immediately eliminate at least $600 million in unnecessary or fraudulent spending. “We know that there are even more areas in government where savings can be found and prioritize Minnesotans First,” the caucus said.

$430,000 Legal Bill for Walz’s “Sanctuary State” Defense

The governor also came under fire for spending nearly half a million dollars in taxpayer funds on outside legal counsel to prepare for a congressional hearing earlier this year. The hearing, titled “A Hearing With Sanctuary State Governors”, examined left-wing sanctuary policies that Republicans argue undermine the rule of law and public safety.

According to a memo obtained by the Star Tribune, Walz requested a $430,000 transfer from the state’s General Contingent Account to cover specialized legal services tied to the June 12, 2025 hearing.

When pressed by KTSP about whether taxpayers were right to be outraged, Walz deflected, blaming Republicans:

“Yes, and they should be angry at those folks. It’s why we asked them to allow us not to be there. Certainly, I would tell you, it’s not where I wanted to spend money. It’s not where I wanted to spend my time, and it certainly proved there was nothing there other than using it for grandstanding.”

Critics say the response highlights Walz’s unwillingness to take accountability and underscores his long-running pattern of blaming others for his own political choices.

A Governor in Trouble

With scandals piling up — from billion-dollar fraud schemes to ballooning deficits and runaway legal bills — Walz is increasingly vulnerable as Minnesota voters grow weary of government corruption and progressive mismanagement. Robbins, by contrast, is positioning herself as a clean-break alternative focused on restoring fiscal discipline and protecting taxpayers.

If Walz does run again, the race could be one of the sharpest tests yet of whether voters in the Midwest are ready to hold Democrats accountable for failed leadership.