ICYMI: Senate DFLers are Rebuilding Trust with Minnesotans on the Campaign Trail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2026
Star Tribune features three Senate DFL candidates cracking down on fraud to protect taxpayer dollars and hold bad actors accountable.
ST. PAUL, MN. — The Star Tribune spoke with Senator Heather Gustafson (SD36) and Senate DFL candidates Kristy Janigo (SD37) and Nat Smith (SD33) about their experiences talking to voters on the campaign trail this year.
Sen. Gustafson (SD36) talked about how she hears a lot of concerns about President Trump when she knocks on doors in the northeast suburbs. She also hears concerns around fraud and what the state is doing about it. Gustafson is proud to tell voters, “the state is headed in a ‘new direction’ in the fight against fraud. We’re going to have a new governor. We’re going to have new heads of agencies. It is a new way forward with a brand-new office whose sole purpose is to track tax dollars and make sure they’re going where they’re supposed to go.”
The state’s new leadership will come, in part, from the Office of Inspector General that Sen. Gustafson spent the last two years working to create. This outstanding bipartisan achievement was supported by 98% of the Senate and 95% of the House.
Kristy Janigo (SD37) said, “‘…There could have been more done to stop this.’ In her experience as a Maple Grove City Council member she made sure taxpayer money went where it was supposed to. She said she wants the state to conduct more in-person site visits to providers to make sure services are being delivered.’
Nat Smith (SD33) is a lawyer fighting fraud who represents whistleblowers and sues bad actors that defraud the government. He knows exactly where the gaps in the law are and where we can do more to fight fraud. “During this year’s legislative session, Smith worked on his own time with DFL Sen. Ron Latz to introduce a bill that would strengthen protections for whistleblowers. Smith said his work has resonated with voters. ‘People are kind of tired of the finger-pointing and the blame game because that doesn’t advance the needle.’”
Senate DFLers know any fraud against our state is unacceptable. Minnesotans deserve confidence that the government is responsible, transparent, and accountable with taxpayer dollars. We’ll keep cracking down on fraud to protect taxpayer dollars and hold bad actors accountable.
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