Klobuchar turns to governing, promises state government audit on 'day one'

Ryan Faircloth, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Nov 4, 2026

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov.-elect Amy Klobuchar promised a sweeping reset of state government on Wednesday, pledging to launch a “top-to-bottom” audit of agencies on her first day in office while announcing a transition team that will help set up her administration.

At a news conference in St. Paul, Klobuchar said her resounding defeat of Republican Lisa Demuth in the governor’s race is now in the “rearview mirror.” The Democrat said she is immediately shifting her focus toward accomplishing her goals: cracking down on social services fraud, growing the economy, lowering health care costs and building 100,000 new housing units — all while not raising taxes.

“I want every Minnesotan to know this: Whether or not I got your vote, I will do my best for you. I will work my heart out for you,” Klobuchar said. “I am relentlessly focused on bringing people with us to transform Minnesota and transform our state government to match your drive and ambition.”

Klobuchar announced her transition team will be led by former appeals court Judge Cindy Jesson, who served as commissioner of the Department of Human Services during the Dayton administration. Jesson will be joined by Klobuchar’s longtime political adviser Justin Buoen, former Ecolab CEO Doug Baker, former St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and outgoing Rochester Mayor Kim Norton, among others.

Two of Klobuchar’s former chiefs of staff in Washington, Rose Sullivan and Lee Sheehy, will also be on the transition team, which will help her recruit commissioners and other employees for her administration that begins Jan. 4. The transition also has an official website.

“Being governor will be a marathon, but this will be a sprint,” Klobuchar said of her transition. “Every single day will count.”

Klobuchar said she will appoint an “independent senior leader” to conduct her promised comprehensive audit of state agencies that will focus on rooting out fraud and waste. The auditor will coordinate their efforts with the state’s newly created Office of Inspector General and the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor, she said.

“I’m also going to direct the agencies to create a clear process for reporting fraud — and we will work with whistleblowers,” she said. “And I will direct agencies to develop action plans to immediately address findings and recommendations by the legislative auditor.”

Klobuchar said she had already spoken Wednesday with DFL and GOP leaders in the Legislature. Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate, but she said she looked forward to working with legislators across the political spectrum, from moderate and progressive DFLers to Republicans, and reiterated she is not afraid to tell her party no.

“I have been very, very firm on this. I am not going to raise taxes, and that is not going to change,” Klobuchar said.

She also briefly discussed the process for filling her U.S. Senate seat. Klobuchar can wait until just before she takes the oath as governor to vacate her seat, giving herself the power to pick her successor. Whoever Klobuchar appoints must win a special election in 2027 to fill out the remainder of her Senate term, which ends in January 2031.

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