歪歪漫画

ROCHESTER, Minn. 鈥� Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz met in their first and only televised debate Tuesday night, Oct. 18, where they presented their different visions for the future of the state. 

Questions in the debate, broadcast from the studio of KTTC-TV in Rochester, ran the gamut of issues in the 2022 election, from abortion to crime and the economy. with each candidate getting 30 to 90 seconds to respond. The hour-long debate streamed online and in Rochester, Mankato, Duluth and Fargo, though it did not air on any stations in the Twin Cities metro area.

Walz, who is running for his second term, defended his record against his GOP challenger Jensen, and said the best way for Minnesota to move forward is to continue investing in its future.

鈥淵ou know what? We do spend a little bit more on health care, we do spend a little bit more on education, we just spend a little bit more on our roads,鈥� he told the four-member panel of moderators. 鈥淲e know that you invest in the future, that that's what comes back to you tenfold over.鈥�

Courtesy: Gray Television

Jensen, a Chaska family practice physician and former state senator who made his name as a critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, blasted Walz鈥檚 record on the pandemic, crime, the 2020 civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd and declining student test scores that coincided with the pandemic. 

鈥淓veryone I see across the state, north, south, east, west, has endured some pretty trying times,鈥� Jensen said, pointing to the disruptions and lasting effects of school and business closures, as well as the isolation of the elderly during the worst of the pandemic. 鈥淚 think everyone鈥檚 felt some heartbreak from watching people鈥檚 lives turned upside down.鈥�

• Where do Jensen, Walz stand on the issues?

Asked what he would do on abortion, Jensen reiterated, as he has in recent comments, that abortion remains constitutionally protected in Minnesota. In the past, Jensen and running mate and former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk expressed interest in banning the procedure in almost all cases, but in recent months have downplayed the issue鈥檚 importance in the race. 

鈥淏ecause abortion is a legally protected right it is not on the ballot in November," Jensen said. 鈥淲hat is on the ballot in November, is without question, skyrocketing inflation, crime out of control, and our kids aren鈥檛 getting the education they need.鈥�  

Walz shot back that Jensen had shifted his position since federal abortion protections ended in June, and again stated his commitment to protecting abortion rights in Minnesota.

鈥淚 want to make absolutely clear, this is on the ballot, It will impact generations to come, and I have been absolutely clear from the beginning about this: Not on our watch," he said. "I trust women 鈥� I trust them to make their own health care decisions.鈥� 

Jensen said Tuesday a constitutional amendment would be how the state would further restrict abortion, something the governor does not have a say in. A majority in both chambers of the legislature would have to put an amendment on a statewide ballot for voters to decide.

On economic issues, Walz said he has backed targeted tax cuts for the middle class and touted Minnesota鈥檚 record-low unemployment rate and historic $9.3 billion budget surplus. 

Jensen railed against growing government spending, pointing out that the state budget was closer to $30 billion 10 years ago and now has topped $50 billion. He has proposed eliminating the state鈥檚 individual income tax 鈥� a move that would cost the state an estimated $15 billion in revenue. Jensen said those losses could be offset by curbing government waste.

Earlier this year, Walz said he wanted to give part of the surplus back to Minnesotans in payments of up to $1,000 per person and $2,000 per couple 鈥� something Jensen during the debate called playing "Santa Claus," and pandering that would not be necessary if the state curbed waste and cut taxes.

Mining also came up during the debate, with Jensen expressing strong support for copper-nickel mining in northern Minnesota. He harshly criticized the Biden administration鈥檚 permit denial for the Twin Metals mining project, and said lack of mining is "killing" northern Minnesota. Asked if he would support the mine if the federal government reinstated permitting for the project, Walz said he would follow federal environmental guidance.

The candidates offered contrasting views on gun regulations, with Walz supporting universal background checks and red flag laws to limit access to firearms and prevent tragedies like school shootings or a shootout at a St. Paul bar last year that left 14 bystanders injured and one dead.

Jensen said he is staunchly pro-Second Amendment but noted at the debate that he has supported legislation aimed at curbing straw purchases, where people who are allowed to buy firearms buy them for people who can not legally obtain them. As a senator, Jensen had backed universal background checks but has since disavowed them and has expressed support for a stand-your-ground law.

Jensen also went after Walz鈥檚 record on addressing the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, where a nonprofit claiming to feed children across the state allegedly stole $250 million in federal funds during the pandemic. 

Jensen and other Republicans have pushed to make the fraud case an issue in the campaign in recent weeks, claiming DFL officials in state government should have done more to stop the theft. Walz and fellow DFLers have maintained they did not want to interfere with a federal investigation that resulted in roughly 50 indictments last month.  

Jensen and Walz sparred over a wide range of issues in the debate, though midway through the debate moderators asked the candidates to say one nice thing about their opponent. Jensen told the panel he had 鈥渢hought about鈥� the question and replied that Walz was an 鈥渁ffable individual who has a wonderful smile.鈥�

Walz responded that Jensen鈥檚 frequent talk of his commitment to his family was a good sign about his intentions.

鈥淚 think that's always a pretty good indicator of where someone's heart鈥檚 at, and I appreciate that when someone puts their family first," Walz said.

Minnesota Public Radio is hosting a final debate on Oct. 28. Jensen has criticized Walz for not participating in more debates.

Early voting has been underway since September and Election Day is Nov. 8.

This story was updated at 11:30 p.m. with additional details. It was originally posted at 9:43 p.m. on Oct. 18.