Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican running for governor, said Tuesday on Newsmax that Gov. Tim Walz should apologize to taxpayers and take responsibility for alleged fraud in state programs after he announced Monday that he will not seek a third term.
"I think the pressure and the exposure of how much fraud has been going on in Minnesota under his administration finally got to him," Demuth said on Newsmax's "National Report."
Demuth also criticized Walz for what she called a failure to accept blame.
"Gov. Walz owes the taxpayers an apology," she said. "He needs to take full responsibility and accountability because this happened on his watch."
She added that Minnesota has "many more things that need to be fixed" because of what she described as a lack of leadership under the Walz administration.
Demuth also said she was not surprised by Walz's decision, though she called the timing unexpected.
Walz said Monday he was ending his reelection bid, stating that political attacks and scrutiny around the fraud issue have made it difficult to serve full time as governor while also campaigning.
Walz, in his remarks announcing his exit, said the state should be concerned about fraud and that his administration had worked to address it, while also blaming President Donald Trump and allies for what he described as efforts to make Minnesota "a colder, meaner place."
The governor was the Democratic Party's 2024 vice presidential nominee.
Demuth, who is campaigning on accountability and tighter oversight of state spending, promised that ending fraud would be a top priority if she wins.
"I can absolutely make that promise," she said, calling suspected fraud "a theft of taxpayer dollars, both state and federal."
"Under my administration, if elected as governor, fraud will end day one, and people will be held accountable," she said.
Demuth said Minnesota Democrats have protected Walz politically and said that the state needs a Republican governor.
"We need a change," she said. "We need a Republican governor in Minnesota to change the direction of where we're headed."
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