House Speaker Lisa Demuth reflects on chaotic weeks in Minnesota
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Immigration actions have seemingly overtaken fraud as a top-of-mind issue in Minnesota and beyond, which could have a spillover effect on the race for governor.
Just a few weeks ago, Gov. Tim Walz was on the defensive over reports of widespread fraud in state service programs and dropped his campaign for a third term. Two days later on Jan. 7, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Macklin Good in her vehicle in the middle of a Minneapolis street.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is also a Republican candidate for governor, told MPR News’ Morning Edition on Wednesday that fraud will remain a matter of concern for voters.
“I believe fully that's what Minnesotans will be saying. Fraud is still in existence under Democrat control in the state of Minnesota fraud has been allowed to explode under Governor Walz,” she said. “Minnesotans are tired of having their taxpayer dollars stolen.”
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In the interview, Demuth said the intensity of federal officers sent to the state is because of a failure by local law enforcement.
“There's been a failure of local law enforcement to protect Americans and the victims of violent criminals that are here illegally,” Demuth said. “Federal law enforcement officers are here carrying out federal law to protect American citizens.”
In response, DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom said he was shocked by the assessment.
“Everyone can see with their own two eyes that President Trump is using the ICE presence in Minnesota to test how far ICE agents can go in violating constitutional rights and the rule of law,” Carlbom said.
Demuth said that she was encouraged to see that top White House border adviser Tom Homan is in Minnesota and is having initial conversations with Walz and other leaders described as productive. In terms of de-escalation from clashes between agents and people protesting the immigration operation, she’d like to see more cooperation from local officers.
Demuth also added that despite the recent upheaval she still would seek Trump’s endorsement in the governor’s race.
“Of course, I would ask for that,” Demuth said. “I am here to serve the people of Minnesota and make Minnesota a safer, stronger, better place that families can stay.”
Press play above to listen to their conversation, or read a transcript below, edited for clarity.
How do you view what happened Saturday, with the killing of Alex Pretti?
When we look at what is going on with federal law enforcement agents or federal law enforcement officers, and the need that they have had to come into our state to carry out federal law, and that is because of a failure of local law enforcement.
But when you look at what has happened, and the intensity within it, there is going to be a full investigation on both of the tragic deaths.
But the federal government is investigating itself?
Again, there's going to be a full investigation going forward.
And so any death is tragic, and my heart and my thoughts are with the families and the friends of those that have lost their loved ones during this time, but again, full investigations will go forward.
I am not an investigator. There are multiple different views, which I understand, but that investigation has to go on. I am very encouraged though, that Tom Homan has come into Minnesota— that Gov. Walz is both having conversations with Tom Homan.
My understanding from what Gov. Walz has put out, he has spoken with the White House, this is these are steps in the right direction, and I'm really grateful for that.
How do you feel like Gov. Walz handled the call with President Trump recently?
I was not a part of the call with President Trump at all. And so, it looks like there are conversations going forward, both with Gov. Walz and with Mayor Frey and that's a good sign steps are being taken. And again, earlier on your show, it was talking about the need to de-escalate; that comes from both the things that people are saying, including our elected officials, and things on the ground.
But that idea of still allowing the federal law enforcement officers to get the job done that they have been tasked with doing, working in cooperation with law enforcement here in Minnesota, and then able to carry that through.
That's a good step in the right direction our governor is talking with others.
What kind of de-escalation would you want to see?
What I would like to see is that there would be cooperation with our local law enforcement to assist in what is being tasked with going on. Remember, the idea of the federal law enforcement officers is to make sure that federal law is being carried out.
So I think our local law enforcement should be able to do their work— and we have heard stories that they have been prohibited from doing some of the work and responding in ways that they normally would. But that cooperation, both at the local level and the federal level, is going to make sure that our largest cities and all of Minnesota is safer for the communities.
One of your competitors in the governor's race, Chris Madel, dropped out in response to the shooting. What did you think when you heard his announcement?
I have not had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Madel.
But again, in the state of Minnesota, we have federal law enforcement officers here because there's been a failure of local law enforcement to protect Americans and the victims of violent criminals that are here illegally, that is why they're here.
If this had been done here in Minnesota, just like it's been done all of these other years, you would not have seen the extent and the chaos of what is going on. So again, federal law enforcement officers are here carrying out federal law to protect American citizens.
That is what our constitution says. That is what it is required to do, and that is what they are doing.
Madel feels that national Republicans will make it really hard for Republicans in Minnesota to win higher office. What'd you make of that?
Republicans here in the state of Minnesota, as you know, Cathy, I am running for governor, but when you look back at the election that took place just in 2024: the Minnesota House of Representatives was the only thing on the ballot as far as the legislature constitutional officers, what you saw is voters returned a tie to the House of Representatives.
What they were saying is Democrat control, which is what we had experienced, full Democrat control in the years ‘23 and ‘24 was too much. We had a spending of an $18 billion surplus that was completely wasted. All of our taxes and fees were going up.
You saw during that year of 2023 that there was even the illegal immigrant taxpayer funded health care that was added, plus many more things that made us become a magnet. We could not afford that.
Going forward, the voters in ‘24 said, “Too much. Democrat control is no longer what we need.”
I believe fully that's what Minnesotans will be saying.
Fraud is still in existence, under Democrat control in the state of Minnesota. Fraud has been allowed to explode under Gov. Walz. Minnesotans are tired— Minnesotans are tired of having their taxpayer dollars stolen.
With the resignation of Joe Thompson as a key federal fraud prosecutor, do those resignations harm the efforts to stop fraud?
I don't have information on the resignations.
Those did take place that was publicly noted. Fraud under Gov. Walz has exploded, and he has never fired a commissioner. He has held no one accountable.
Minnesotans are tired of having their taxpayer dollars stolen and sent to fraudsters. That is part of the change of what Minnesotans need in the 2026 election.
But are you worried that the fact that the effort to hold actual criminals to account may be affected by all the turmoil in the DOJ?
I definitely believe, as we know, Minnesotans want a safe community and by the top leaders in our state and city leaders, ignoring the fact that we have criminal, illegal immigrants here convicted of dangerous, serious crime, and they turn a blind eye to it.
Minnesotans want safe communities. That's why we have the influx that has been so needed here of the federal law enforcement officers.
They also don't want their taxpayer dollars stolen anymore. They want our kids to be able to read at grade level. Only half of our kids can read at grade level, and we want to make sure that businesses can thrive, which also includes community safety.
I was grateful to see the local law enforcement in Maple Grove, just two nights ago, when agitators came in and started trying to destroy a hotel, local law enforcement and state patrol came in and stopped that and made arrests in a way that we have not seen that type of response from local and that took place after Gov. Walz conversation with President Trump.
People want safe communities.
Do you still plan to ask the president for his endorsement to run for governor?
If I have the opportunity to ask the the president for an endorsement, I will do that. I don't know if I would receive that or not, but of course, I would ask for that.
But going forward, just as I've proven in my time in the legislature in almost eight years, I am here to serve the people of Minnesota and make Minnesota a safer, stronger, better place that families can stay.
So many people are leaving six months and a day because they can no longer afford this state. That is because of Democrat control, and it needs to change, and it needs to change soon.
