The Minnesota GOP has publicly urged Gov. Tim Walz to resign amid allegations that a long‑running fraud crisis worsened under his administration. Republican lawmakers cited Article 8, Section 6 of the Minnesota Constitution as justification but did not begin a formal recall. Federal prosecutors have estimated the fraud could total up to $9 billion, and a viral video exposing suspected fraudulent daycare sites intensified scrutiny. The Walz administration says it has launched investigations, audits and program changes in response.
Minnesota Republicans Cite State Constitution, Urge Gov. Tim Walz To Resign Amid Widening Fraud Allegations
GOP lawmakers in Minnesota are calling for Gov. Tim Walz to resign over the exploding fraud crisis.
Several Republican Minnesota lawmakers publicly called on Democratic Governor Tim Walz to resign, saying a long-simmering fraud crisis has intensified on his watch and alleging failures of oversight across state programs.
What The Lawmakers Say
In a Monday statement, State Senators Bill Lieske and Nathan Wesenberg and State Representatives Marj Fogelman, Drew Roach and Mike Wiener said Minnesotans "have been watching the fraud crisis get worse and worse for years. It has gone on long enough." They added that their demand is not a political stunt, and that "the office of the governor deserves respect, and we have tried to give Gov. Walz time to act."
"Leadership means doing the right thing even when it is difficult, which is why we are calling on Gov. Walz to resign."
The group pointed to Article 8, Section 6 of the Minnesota Constitution — which addresses malfeasance in office and provides grounds for removing executive officers — as the constitutional basis for their call, but they stopped short of launching a formal recall effort.
Scope Of The Allegations
Federal prosecutors and recent reporting have placed the scale of the alleged fraud under scrutiny. Prosecutors have estimated the losses could be as high as $9 billion, with a significant portion of reported activity tied to programs and providers serving Minnesota's Somali community. Lawmakers say red flags were visible for years while fraud continued to expand.
Tim Walz speaks onstage during the 2025 SXSW Conference and Festival at the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2025, in Austin, Texas
Administration Response
The Walz administration pushed back on the criticism. A spokesperson said the governor "has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action," and listed steps taken to strengthen oversight.
"He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed," the spokesperson said. "The governor has hired an outside firm to audit payments to high‑risk programs, shut down the Housing Stabilization Services program entirely, announced a new statewide program integrity director, and supported criminal prosecutions."
Public Reaction And Next Steps
Public scrutiny intensified after a viral video by journalist Nick Shirley, which reportedly garnered more than 100 million views on X and showed suspected fraudulent daycare locations. Calls for Walz to resign have also come from other political figures, including former Trump administration official Linda McMahon, according to news reports.
Republican lawmakers reiterated that the alleged fraud is the top concern they hear from constituents and urged accountability. For now, they have requested that Gov. Walz step aside to allow "a reset and new leadership," while no official recall process has been initiated.
What’s next: Investigations and audits are ongoing. Any formal removal or recall would require separate legal and legislative steps under state law.
