The tragedy unfolding in Minnesota as a result of overzealous immigration enforcement has, for now, strengthened the Democratic Party. Moderate and more left-leaning factions have united in opposition to government overreach and illegal ICE tactics. However, turning this unity into electoral success will require vigilance around a familiar vulnerability: fraud. Republicans will use it aggressively against them.
Unity around how to confront and prevent fraud would improve Democrats’ chances in the midterm elections and strengthen the state overall. Republicans are offering a timely example of how a party can erode support from the political center by allowing extremists to set the agenda.
Extremism is a Failed Playbook
Republicans have taken a page from the Democratic playbook in turning public support into aggressive opposition. If they had kept their focus on fraud and mismanagement—issues they leveraged into removing Tim Walz as a candidate for governor—and avoided pivoting to supercharged immigration enforcement, they might have had a chance to win statewide races.
Instead, Republicans failed to understand that many people who hold racist beliefs do not want to be seen as racists. This miscalculation has left only the most extreme members of the party willing to openly support Republican candidates. Where they could have expanded their appeal, they instead managed to shrink it.
There is a lesson here for Democratic leadership. What Republicans have engaged in is a kind of political self-immolation: allowing the loudest, most extreme, and most aggressive voices in the party to set policy and direction. Governing by the likes and comments of a social media feed is a recipe for failure—regardless of party.
Now is the moment for Democrats to attract voters who have abandoned the party in the past, if they can demonstrate a willingness to clean up government, curb wasteful overspending, and put common-sense oversight of social programs in place. Democrats owe it to the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to keep MAGA-style Republicans out of office and prevent them from enacting policies that are undermining the economic, social, and political foundations of our state and country. To succeed, Democrats must expand their base, and that requires stepping back from condescending virtue signaling and focusing instead on programs and policies that demonstrate practical, competent governance.
Operation Metro Surge has been a disaster on multiple levels. It has shown the country, and even the world, the worst impulses of the Republican Party. It has revealed the extent to which Republicans are willing to disregard the Constitution, the law, and long-standing democratic norms. Resistance from Minnesotans appeared to catch them off guard, and the response was increased brutality. Trump’s memes, along with those of his right-wing influencers, have laid bare the depth of their racism, whether further proof was needed or not. This will not fade away. The midterms will be the first real opportunity for Democrats to reject it. They cannot afford to hand momentum back to Republicans, which could easily happen once federal agents withdraw from the state.
Holding onto the High Ground
If Democrats want to maintain the moral high ground they currently occupy, they must be consistent in demanding accountability and transparency in social programs. Consider the findings from the recent review of claims in high-risk social programs administered by the Department of Human Services. The Star Tribune reported, “Ninety percent of claims that Medicaid-funded autism intervention providers billed the state for over a four-year period veered from acceptable standards.” That level of fraud or incompetence cannot be ignored. Government officials failed badly in their responsibility to manage taxpayer funds, and the department heads overseeing these programs should lose their jobs. The politicians who sponsored the legislation creating these programs would best serve the state by becoming the loudest advocates for cleaning up the rot.
John Connolly, the agency’s deputy commissioner and the state Medicaid director, said during a press briefing that the findings will be shared with the state Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He added that mass resignations of federal prosecutors have complicated efforts to prosecute fraud in Minnesota. The Star Tribune further reports:
The report excludes the names of providers but identifies the types of programs vulnerable to what it calls an “egregious pattern” of irregular claims. Connolly said these range from billing for services that are not clinically justified to documentation that is nonsensical.
The programs that stood out include autism intervention, nonemergency medical transportation, and housing stabilization services.
The state shut down the housing stabilization program in October amid allegations of widespread fraud . . . Connolly said it could take years for the state to reimagine its social service programs in ways that prevent further wrongdoing, an issue that is expected to be a major focus of the upcoming legislative session.
Years of Cleanup
Democrats could easily misread their current level of public support and fumble the moment. Most people oppose detaining individuals simply because of the color of their skin. They also oppose overcrowded detention facilities that bear an unsettling resemblance to concentration camps. People want warrants and strong protections for the First, Second, and Fourth Amendments.
At the same time, many people also want a functional immigration policy that rewards those who follow the rules and recognizes that deportation is justified in certain cases. They want those carrying out deportations to remove their masks, operate transparently, and be held accountable for their actions.
Most people are also strongly opposed to the theft of taxpayer dollars, especially when they themselves are struggling with high taxes, rent, education costs, and health care. The massive fraud that has occurred in this state will remain an issue for years. It will be a sledgehammer Republicans use repeatedly. Democrats must find a way to contain fraud, waste, and extremism within their own ranks if they want a chance to win back control of the U.S. Senate and the presidency. They cannot rely on Republicans to continue destroying themselves. Instead, Democrats must stay ahead of the narrative by clearly explaining that helping those who need it most requires functional social programs that distribute benefits as intended.
Signal: bttrmpls.33
