Klobuchar Elected Minnesota Governor, Set to Become State’s First Woman in the Role

Klobuchar claims statewide victory

Klobuchar, a Democrat, defeated Demuth, the leading Republican in Minnesota’s state government. CBS News projects the outcome of Tuesday’s election.

Fraud scandal shaped campaign

The contest unfolded amid revelations about theft from state-run social services programs intended to support food, housing, health care and child care. The Associated Press reported that dozens of people have been convicted in connection with hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen funds.

CBS News has reported that federal prosecutors put the potential total above $9 billion. Demuth made the scandal a central campaign issue as Republicans hoped it could help them win the governor’s office.

Candidates brought different records

Klobuchar has won each of her Senate elections by double-digit margins, though those margins declined over time: 35 points in 2012, 24 in 2018 and 16 in 2024. She also sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, ending her campaign shortly before Super Tuesday and backing former President Joe Biden.

Demuth first won a seat in the state House in 2018, representing a rural district outside St. Cloud. She became speaker through a power-sharing arrangement after the 2024 election left the chamber evenly divided, and would have been Minnesota’s first Black governor.

Republicans sought a breakthrough

Demuth urged voters who have traditionally supported Democrats to give Republicans a chance. Her campaign also promised action on violent crime and education.