Voters across Minnesota are signaling that combating fraud has become a central concern as the 2026 midterm elections near. A poll conducted by KSTP/SurveyUSA from Sept. 9‑14 of 654 likely November voters found that 14% of respondents rank fraud as the second‑most important issue they want winning candidates to address, trailing only inflation and the cost of living.
Poll details and voter priorities
The same survey shows 37% of Minnesotans list inflation or cost of living as their top priority, while 12% cite healthcare. Fraud, however, emerged as the leading issue for the governor and attorney‑general races and the second‑most important concern for the U.S. Senate contest, narrowly behind protecting Social Security.
“At every level, Minnesota’s voters seem to want officials who will tackle the epidemic of fraud which has been allowed to run rampant in this state over the last few years,” said John Phelan, an economist with the Center of the American Experiment, in an analysis of the poll.
Local fraud allegations fuel voter anxiety
The poll’s findings arrive amid a high‑profile fraud investigation in Hennepin County. Earlier this year, the county launched a $2 million Small Business Recovery Fund to help businesses recover from the federal immigration operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Of roughly 300 applications received, more than 200 were flagged as potentially fraudulent.
County Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde told local media that the fraud was “rampant,” describing schemes that included “mythical companies,” impersonation of legitimate firms, and outright false applications. “We were spending probably two to three times the amount of money in administrative overhead to try to combat fraud,” Lunde said.
Ultimately, the program disbursed only about $500,000 to 82 applicants. Lunde warned that the lack of prosecutions or meaningful consequences for fraudsters has emboldened further wrongdoing. “People didn’t have fear,” he said. “We’re going to have to devote more resources on the prosecution side… we’re going to have to make examples of people, and it can’t be just a little slap on the hand and away you go.”
Implications for upcoming races
As Minnesotans head to the polls, candidates for governor, attorney‑general and the U.S. Senate will likely need to address these concerns directly. The poll suggests that voters expect stronger oversight, tighter controls on public‑funded programs, and more aggressive prosecution of fraudulent activity.
Both major parties have begun to incorporate anti‑fraud language into campaign messaging, but the effectiveness of those promises will be measured against the concrete steps taken by state and local officials to protect taxpayer dollars.
What voters can do
Voters are encouraged to stay informed about the specifics of any recovery or assistance programs in their communities and to hold elected officials accountable for ensuring transparency and accountability. With a margin of error of 4.4%, the poll provides a snapshot of current sentiment, but the trend—rising concern over fraud—appears clear.
As the midterms approach, Minnesota’s electorate is sending a strong signal: protecting the integrity of public funds and curbing fraudulent schemes will be a litmus test for any candidate seeking office.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
