Tafoya and Flanagan clash over fraud and abortion in Minnesota Senate debate

Mixed · 2Republican nominee Michele Tafoya, a former broadcaster, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan debated on Friday 16 October for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. 1 2 Left · 1According to MPR News, as cited by Raw Story, it was the race's only scheduled debate; MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated the hourlong broadcast. 2 Right · 1On fraud, Tafoya cited Flanagan's eight years as lieutenant governor and said the state had "massive fraud, historic fraud," lower test scores, rising crime and a surplus turned into a deficit. 1

Right · 1Fox News reports that local and federal investigators have uncovered fraud schemes involving daycare centers, food programs and health clinics, accused of defrauding the state of up to $9 billion. 1 Right · 1Asked whether she had "any ownership over the fraud," Flanagan said Gov. Tim Walz had been clear that "the buck stops with him" and that he had oversight, and pointed to her own work on paid family leave, a child tax credit and school meals. 1 Right · 1When Flanagan turned to criticism of President Donald Trump, Tafoya replied that Trump was not on the ballot and accused Flanagan of pointing at Walz after having demanded to be in the room; Flanagan said Trump had endorsed Tafoya because she passed his litmus test. 1

Right · 1Tafoya proposed that noncitizens who defraud Americans must leave with no path back, mandatory prison minimums for American fraudsters, and questioned why the federal government would send money to states that cannot keep their finances in order. 1 Left · 1On abortion, Bakst asked Tafoya to define the "reasonable access" in the first three months of pregnancy that she says she supports. Tafoya called herself a pro-choice Republican, said Minnesota law is settled and that she has no desire to change it from the Senate, then paused for several seconds, stammered and laughed before saying "reasonable access is reasonable access." 2 Left · 1Flanagan said voters were getting "two different versions of Michele Tafoya," citing a letter Tafoya signed saying she was completely aligned with Trump on abortion, and said one cannot be both that and pro-choice. 2

Left · 1A Planned Parenthood of Minnesota political action fund chair wrote in a Star Tribune op-ed that the letter vanished from Tafoya's campaign website within days of her nomination. Tafoya told a conservative radio show earlier this year, "I'm in line with President Trump on this," while also calling Minnesota's abortion laws too extreme. 2 Mixed · 2A Minnesota Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll published Monday showed Flanagan leading Tafoya 47% to 43%, with about 9% undecided; the general election is on 3 November. 2 1