GOP’s Corporate Funders Target Minnesota Attorney General
The article below is part of Drop Site’s ongoing collaboration with Barn Raiser t[o put a focus on rural politics][1], with a newsletter running through November.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 2026. Photo by Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is running for a third term against Republican challenger Ron Schutz (not to be confused with his last opponent, [Jim Schultz][3]). While a Republican has [not held the office in Minnesota since 1971][4], Ellison’s last bid for re-election was a [nail-biter][5]: He won 50.4% to 49.5% by just over 20,000 votes. This year’s contest is just as close; a [mid-September poll][6] had Schutz slightly ahead with 45% of the likely vote to Ellison’s 43%.
Across the nation, elections for state attorneys general can be some of the most consequential in shaping a state’s posture toward the federal government, which is [top of mind][7] for Minnesotans in the wake of Operation Metro Surge.
State attorneys general are [increasingly][8] banding together to challenge federal law breaking, including [illegal federal funding cuts][9] by the Trump administration. Bipartisan coalitions of state attorneys general also serve as key cops on the beat in areas where federal enforcers are stepping back, such as in antitrust, consumer protection, and environmental protection.
But the office can play a harmful role as well. Since 1999, dark money and special interest groups have funneled tens of millions of dollars toward the [Republican Attorneys General Association][10] (RAGA). RAGA has [been criticized][11] as a “pay to play” organization helping elect GOP attorneys general to support corporate interests and, in some cases, [undermine democracy][12]. According to the Center for Media and Democracy, top RAGA donors in 2026 include Elon Musk, OpenAI, Koch Industries, FanDuel (an online prediction market and sportsbook), and Bayer (the chemical giant that manufactures RoundUp).
Attorneys general are up for election in 30 states this year. According to [The Center for Politics][13] at the University of Virginia, eight of these races are competitive, three of which lean Democrat (Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona), while three lean Republican (Kansas, Iowa and Georgia), and two are toss-ups (Michigan and Minnesota).
## **Ellison’s Track Record**
During and after the influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in 2025—not just in Minneapolis but in [rural][14] [communities][15] [across the state][16]—Ellison sued the federal government for [violating Minnesotans’ constitutional rights][17] and [withholding evidence from the state’s investigations][18] into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both cases are ongoing.
Ellison has a track record of fighting to protect Minnesotans against federal and corporate bullying. Schutz claims he’ll do the same, though like most Minnesota Republicans this election cycle his campaign focuses a lot more on fraud than challenging corporate power or the Trump administration. Republicans are [hammering][19] Minnesota Democrats for failing to prevent hundreds of millions of dollars stolen in [food, housing, and health care][20] [programs][21] over the past five years. As one of the only incumbents on the ballot, Ellison is particularly vulnerable to this narrative.
Ellison was first elected attorney general in 2018, when he [gave up his safe seat][22] representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. [While in Congress, he][23] founded the House Antitrust and Consumer Justice Caucuses. Ellison [told ][24]*[Minn Post][25]* at the time that he believed he could do more to hold power to account and protect working people as the state attorney general than as a member of Congress.
Over his past two terms, Ellison has defended Minnesotans against historic injustices in the national spotlight, including convicting Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. Ellison also joined with other state attorneys general in [80 lawsuits][26] to challenge Trump administration policies that threaten birthright citizenship, gender-affirming care, voting rights, and public programs. This includes challenging, and in some cases preventing, federal funding freezes for critical programs supporting low-income families including the [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program][27] (SNAP), [Medicaid][28], and [child care funding][29], which rural communities depend on.
Ellison has [sued][30] [hospital systems][31] [for their debt collection practices][32], in one instance forgiving [$184,000 in medical debt][33] for patients of Hutchinson Health, a rural hospital 60 miles west of the Twin Cities. Minnesota has also joined multiple bipartisan, multi-state suits challenging [opioid manufacturers][34], [other drug companies][35], [Ticketmaster][36], [Amazon][37], [Google][38], and numerous other dominant corporations.
Minnesota and Illinois [were the first states to join][39] the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against John Deere’s monopolization of farm equipment repair. Minnesota also led the state coalition on the Department of Justice’s [lawsuit against AgriStats][40], a data-sharing corporation accused of facilitating price-fixing by meatpackers. Since May, Minnesota has joined the feds in settling both cases. While some [antitrust][41] [advocates][42] would have preferred that these cases go to trial for [a chance at a stronger remedy][43], the states likely pushed to improve both settlements.
This work has made Ellison a target for corporations. As of the latest public reports from mid-September, dark money PACs had spent [a record $6.8 million][44] on attack ads against Ellison, far surpassing the $1.8 million spent against Schutz. According to [public filings][45], one anti-Ellison PAC, Minnesotans for Justice, has ties to the Minnesota Private Business Council, a political advocacy group [representing][46] Minnesota corporations including countertop maker Cambria and beef processor Rosen’s Diversified, led by Ellison’s last challenger, Jim Schultz. Ellison has benefited from $4.2 million in supportive outside PAC spending compared to just $423,000 spent supporting Schutz.
“I’m extremely concerned about the harm that corporate consolidation and monopolies are having on farmers and rural communities generally throughout our state,” Ellison said in a statement to Barn Raiser*.*
## **Schutz Eyes an Upset**
Ellison’s Achilles heel is public discontent over pandemic-era fraud scandals, which [Republicans blame on Minnesota Democrats][47]. Most notably, a non-profit called Feeding Our Future stole [$250 million][48] from a public program meant to feed children during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the ringleader of this scheme was a white woman, the majority of convicted Feeding Our Future fraudsters are [Somali Americans][49]. PAC-funded attack ads against [Ellison and other Minnesota Democrats][50] emphasize this fact to vilify Minnesota’s Somali community and advance an “us-versus-them” narrative. Since the Feeding Our Future scandal, the state has found fraud in other public programs meant to provide addiction services, housing for people with disabilities, services for children with autism, and home health care.
Different state agencies are responsible for identifying and challenging fraud in different state and federal programs (in the case of Feeding Our Future, the Minnesota Department of Education was technically responsible). Attorneys general oversee Medicaid fraud, specifically, plus they [represent state agencies in legal disputes][51].
Schutz, Ellison’s challenger, [says][52] he will do more to prevent fraud. He [accuses][53] Ellison of accepting too many plea deals in fraud cases. In a debate broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Schutz said he would allocate more resources to prosecute fraud and refuse to enter into plea agreements to bring more fraudsters to trial.
“For the vast majority of fraud cases that Keith Ellison’s office has prosecuted, almost no one goes to jail, almost no one ends up with a felony on their record, and the fraudsters pay at most just pennies on the dollars of what they’ve stolen,” Schutz said in a statement to Barn Raiser*.*
Ellison has maintained that his office [held the Feeding Our Future fraudsters accountable][54] to the extent they had jurisdiction to, [increased staff][55] to prosecute fraud in the future, won [over 300][56] Medicaid fraud convictions, and [advocated][57] for state-level legislation to increase Medicaid fraud penalties and aid enforcement (legislation that Schutz [opposed][58]). Ellison [defended himself][59] by saying that it is the judge’s decision, not the attorney general’s, to determine if a crime rises to a felony-level sentence. Ellison told Barn Raiser that he oversees a top-performing Medicaid fraud unit, which ranked, on average, “fifth in fraud convictions across the entire country over the last six years.”
[Until recently][60], Schutz was a partner at a national law firm, [Robins Kaplan][61]. He chaired former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s judicial selection commission and served on the board of [the Center for the American Experiment][62], a conservative Minnesota think tank with [ties to the Koch brothers][63]. The organization opposes [teachers’ unions][64] and [renewable energy][65], among other issues. In addition to fighting fraud, Schutz is [campaigning][66] on familiar conservative priorities such as combating crime, supporting law enforcement, and barring trans athletes from girls’ sports.
As a trial attorney, Schutz [specialized][67] [in][68] litigating environmental insurance conflicts and suing corporations for patent infringement. Schutz [says][69] he will “bring that same fight to protect Minnesota families and defend consumers.” When asked by MPR about the factors he’d consider for enforcing consumer protection laws or challenging harmful business practices, Schutz was vague.
“If they committed wrongdoing and Minnesotans were harmed, the attorney general should take action against that,” he said.
Barn Raiser asked Schutz how he would support rural communities.
“I grew up on a dairy farm in Southwestern Minnesota near the small town of Adrian,” he said. “I understand rural communities. These are my people and when I’m attorney general I will make sure that they are heard and their issues addressed.”
Ellison criticized Schutz for having [$1.74 million in personal stock holdings][70] in the very corporations he will be expected to prosecute. Schutz has [promised][71] that, if elected, he will put his investments under blind management and divest holdings from companies sued by the state.
When it comes to challenging the federal government, Schutz noted that he called for a joint state and federal investigation into the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. On MPR, Schutz said he has no problem suing the Trump administration if they are “truly hurting Minnesotans.” However, he dismissed many of the multi-state cases brought against the federal government as “political theatre.” When asked by MPR if there was a specific case that Minnesota joined that Schutz had a problem with, Schutz admitted that he has not had the time to look at all of those cases.
Nearly 420,000 votes have been [cast in-person or by mail][72] during the first five weeks of early voting. How Minnesota responds to corporate power and an increasingly authoritarian federal government now lies in the hands of its voters.
*Full disclosure: The author works for the Open Markets Institute, which has provided subject area research to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and spoken at their legal education events.*
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[1]: https://barnraisingmedia17744.activehosted.com/f/71
[2]: https://barnraisingmedia17744.activehosted.com/f/71
[3]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/28/voter-guide-see-minnesota-attorney-general-candidates-stances
[4]: https://www.startribune.com/keep-an-eye-on-the-minnesota-ags-race-for-2026/601231474
[5]: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-elections/minnesota-attorney-general-results/
[6]: https://www.newsweek.com/republican-leads-minnesota-poll-democrats-seat-decades-12454517
[7]: https://fox59.com/news/national-world/minnesota-democrats-lead-michelle-tafoya-mike-lindell-in-upcoming-elections/
[8]: https://attorneysgeneral.org/multistate-lawsuits-vs-the-federal-government/
[9]: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-wins-case-blocking-trump-administrations-attacks
[10]: https://republicanags.com/
[11]: https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2026/10/23/elon-musk-koch-and-big-tobacco-bankroll-republican-ags-group/
[12]: https://www.propublica.org/article/raga-gop-jan6-amazon-walmart-comcast-contributions
[13]: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/democratic-outlook-brightens-in-races-for-vital-state-ag-posts/
[14]: https://prospect.org/2026/03/30/apr-2026-magazine-when-ice-blows-through-rural-america-minnesota/
[15]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/operation-metro-surge-impact-on-rural-mn-meatpacking-towns-mar-26
[16]: https://www.startribune.com/with-ice-surge-spreading-across-state-rumors-and-anxiety-grow-in-greater-minnesota/601562255
[17]: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72132615/state-of-minnesota-v-noem/
[18]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/23/trump-administration-stopped-sharing-evidence-in-good-pretti-killings-minnesota-officials-say
[19]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue-state
[20]: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-schemes-what-we-know/
[21]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/10/22_EvergreenRecovery.asp
[22]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/06/08/politics-friday-kieth-ellison
[23]: https://www.naag.org/attorney-general/keith-ellison/
[24]: https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/06/why-keith-ellison-leaving-safe-seat-congress-make-risky-bid-minnesota-attorn/
[25]: https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/06/why-keith-ellison-leaving-safe-seat-congress-make-risky-bid-minnesota-attorn/
[26]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Rule-Of-Law/Litigation/
[27]: https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/02/us-federal-court-blocks-snap-funding-cuts-over-states-refusal-to-share-recipient-data/
[28]: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72353395/state-of-minnesota-v-oz/
[29]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/06_ACF_FundingFreeze.asp
[30]: https://www.startribune.com/ag-invites-minnesotans-struggling-with-medical-debt-collections-to-share-their-stories/600298148
[31]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/03/14_MayoClinic.asp
[32]: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-settlement-on-medical-debt-saves-hutchinson-health-patients-184000/600069199
[33]: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-settlement-on-medical-debt-saves-hutchinson-health-patients-184000/600069199
[34]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/opioids/
[35]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/07/17_Glenmark.asp
[36]: https://www.axios.com/2026/03/10/live-nation-ticketmaster-state-antitrust
[37]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2023/09/26_Amazon.asp
[38]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/04/17_Google.asp
[39]: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-states-sue-deere-company-protect-farmers-unfair-corporate-tactics-high-repair-costs
[40]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/doj-agristats-suit-oct-23?rq=DOJ
[41]: https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/youll-own-nothing-and-be-happy-why
[42]: https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/economic-liberties-condemns-doj-for-dropping-agri-stats-meatpacking-cartel-case/
[43]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/agri-stats-settlement-may-26
[44]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/record-pac-money-flowing-to-minnesota-attorney-general-race/
[45]: https://cfb.mn.gov/reports-and-data/viewers/campaign-finance/large-contribution-notices/
[46]: https://www.growthmn.com/here-s-what-jim-schultz-s-minnesota-private-business-council-is-up-to/
[47]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue-state
[48]: https://apnews.com/article/feeding-our-future-pandemic-fraud-trial-847f42be252ecd373c60125fd4fae6e9
[49]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/minnesota-welfare-fraud-scandal.html
[50]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/16/campaign-ads-blame-fraud-violence-on-somali-minnesotans
[51]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2022/09/26_FeedingOurFuture.asp
[52]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/ag-candidate-schutz-says-hes-ready-to-break-60-year-losing-streak-for-gop/
[53]: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/keith-ellison-defends-fraud-record-trump-lawsuits-in-tight-minnesota-attorney-general-race/?intcid=CNR-02-0623
[54]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2022/09/26_FeedingOurFuture.asp
[55]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/10/21/keith-ellison-running-for-minnesota-attorney-general-in-2026
[56]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/25_MedicaidFraud.asp
[57]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/25_MedicaidFraud.asp
[58]: https://ronformnag.com/Release.html
[59]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/in-minnesota-convicted-fraudsters-often-end-up-with-no-felonies-on-their-records/
[60]: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/top-twin-cities-trial-star-ditches-power-firm-to-take-on-keith-ellison/
[61]: https://www.robinskaplan.com/
[62]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/
[63]: https://www.desmog.com/center-american-experiment/
[64]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/news/?issue=unions
[65]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/reports/shattered-green-dreams
[66]: https://www.ronformnag.com/priorities.html
[67]: https://www.lawdragon.com/lawyer-limelights/2022-07-14-legends-limelight-ronald-j-schutz
[68]: https://tcbmag.com/notable/ronald-schutz/
[69]: https://www.ronformnag.com/home.html
[70]: https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/09/29/minnesota-republican-ag-candidates-stock-portfolio-presents-174-potential-conflicts-of-interest/
[71]: https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/10/02/at-ag-debate-republican-ron-schutz-commits-to-putting-stocks-in-blind-trust/
[72]: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/in-person-early-voting-minnesota-heres-what-to-know/
[73]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/minnesota-keith-ellison-ron-schutz-republicans/comments
[74]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/minnesota-keith-ellison-ron-schutz-republicans?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
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"content": "GOP’s Corporate Funders Target Minnesota Attorney General\n\nThe article below is part of Drop Site’s ongoing collaboration with Barn Raiser t[o put a focus on rural politics][1], with a newsletter running through November.\n\n[SIGN UP HERE][2]\n\nMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 2026. Photo by Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images.\n\nMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is running for a third term against Republican challenger Ron Schutz (not to be confused with his last opponent, [Jim Schultz][3]). While a Republican has [not held the office in Minnesota since 1971][4], Ellison’s last bid for re-election was a [nail-biter][5]: He won 50.4% to 49.5% by just over 20,000 votes. This year’s contest is just as close; a [mid-September poll][6] had Schutz slightly ahead with 45% of the likely vote to Ellison’s 43%.\n\nAcross the nation, elections for state attorneys general can be some of the most consequential in shaping a state’s posture toward the federal government, which is [top of mind][7] for Minnesotans in the wake of Operation Metro Surge.\n\nState attorneys general are [increasingly][8] banding together to challenge federal law breaking, including [illegal federal funding cuts][9] by the Trump administration. Bipartisan coalitions of state attorneys general also serve as key cops on the beat in areas where federal enforcers are stepping back, such as in antitrust, consumer protection, and environmental protection.\n\nBut the office can play a harmful role as well. Since 1999, dark money and special interest groups have funneled tens of millions of dollars toward the [Republican Attorneys General Association][10] (RAGA). RAGA has [been criticized][11] as a “pay to play” organization helping elect GOP attorneys general to support corporate interests and, in some cases, [undermine democracy][12]. According to the Center for Media and Democracy, top RAGA donors in 2026 include Elon Musk, OpenAI, Koch Industries, FanDuel (an online prediction market and sportsbook), and Bayer (the chemical giant that manufactures RoundUp).\n\nAttorneys general are up for election in 30 states this year. According to [The Center for Politics][13] at the University of Virginia, eight of these races are competitive, three of which lean Democrat (Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona), while three lean Republican (Kansas, Iowa and Georgia), and two are toss-ups (Michigan and Minnesota).\n\n## **Ellison’s Track Record**\n\nDuring and after the influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in 2025—not just in Minneapolis but in [rural][14] [communities][15] [across the state][16]—Ellison sued the federal government for [violating Minnesotans’ constitutional rights][17] and [withholding evidence from the state’s investigations][18] into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both cases are ongoing.\n\nEllison has a track record of fighting to protect Minnesotans against federal and corporate bullying. Schutz claims he’ll do the same, though like most Minnesota Republicans this election cycle his campaign focuses a lot more on fraud than challenging corporate power or the Trump administration. Republicans are [hammering][19] Minnesota Democrats for failing to prevent hundreds of millions of dollars stolen in [food, housing, and health care][20] [programs][21] over the past five years. As one of the only incumbents on the ballot, Ellison is particularly vulnerable to this narrative.\n\nEllison was first elected attorney general in 2018, when he [gave up his safe seat][22] representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. [While in Congress, he][23] founded the House Antitrust and Consumer Justice Caucuses. Ellison [told ][24]*[Minn Post][25]* at the time that he believed he could do more to hold power to account and protect working people as the state attorney general than as a member of Congress.\n\nOver his past two terms, Ellison has defended Minnesotans against historic injustices in the national spotlight, including convicting Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. Ellison also joined with other state attorneys general in [80 lawsuits][26] to challenge Trump administration policies that threaten birthright citizenship, gender-affirming care, voting rights, and public programs. This includes challenging, and in some cases preventing, federal funding freezes for critical programs supporting low-income families including the [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program][27] (SNAP), [Medicaid][28], and [child care funding][29], which rural communities depend on.\n\nEllison has [sued][30] [hospital systems][31] [for their debt collection practices][32], in one instance forgiving [$184,000 in medical debt][33] for patients of Hutchinson Health, a rural hospital 60 miles west of the Twin Cities. Minnesota has also joined multiple bipartisan, multi-state suits challenging [opioid manufacturers][34], [other drug companies][35], [Ticketmaster][36], [Amazon][37], [Google][38], and numerous other dominant corporations.\n\nMinnesota and Illinois [were the first states to join][39] the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against John Deere’s monopolization of farm equipment repair. Minnesota also led the state coalition on the Department of Justice’s [lawsuit against AgriStats][40], a data-sharing corporation accused of facilitating price-fixing by meatpackers. Since May, Minnesota has joined the feds in settling both cases. While some [antitrust][41] [advocates][42] would have preferred that these cases go to trial for [a chance at a stronger remedy][43], the states likely pushed to improve both settlements.\n\nThis work has made Ellison a target for corporations. As of the latest public reports from mid-September, dark money PACs had spent [a record $6.8 million][44] on attack ads against Ellison, far surpassing the $1.8 million spent against Schutz. According to [public filings][45], one anti-Ellison PAC, Minnesotans for Justice, has ties to the Minnesota Private Business Council, a political advocacy group [representing][46] Minnesota corporations including countertop maker Cambria and beef processor Rosen’s Diversified, led by Ellison’s last challenger, Jim Schultz. Ellison has benefited from $4.2 million in supportive outside PAC spending compared to just $423,000 spent supporting Schutz.\n\n“I’m extremely concerned about the harm that corporate consolidation and monopolies are having on farmers and rural communities generally throughout our state,” Ellison said in a statement to Barn Raiser*.*\n\n## **Schutz Eyes an Upset**\n\nEllison’s Achilles heel is public discontent over pandemic-era fraud scandals, which [Republicans blame on Minnesota Democrats][47]. Most notably, a non-profit called Feeding Our Future stole [$250 million][48] from a public program meant to feed children during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the ringleader of this scheme was a white woman, the majority of convicted Feeding Our Future fraudsters are [Somali Americans][49]. PAC-funded attack ads against [Ellison and other Minnesota Democrats][50] emphasize this fact to vilify Minnesota’s Somali community and advance an “us-versus-them” narrative. Since the Feeding Our Future scandal, the state has found fraud in other public programs meant to provide addiction services, housing for people with disabilities, services for children with autism, and home health care.\n\nDifferent state agencies are responsible for identifying and challenging fraud in different state and federal programs (in the case of Feeding Our Future, the Minnesota Department of Education was technically responsible). Attorneys general oversee Medicaid fraud, specifically, plus they [represent state agencies in legal disputes][51].\n\nSchutz, Ellison’s challenger, [says][52] he will do more to prevent fraud. He [accuses][53] Ellison of accepting too many plea deals in fraud cases. In a debate broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Schutz said he would allocate more resources to prosecute fraud and refuse to enter into plea agreements to bring more fraudsters to trial.\n\n“For the vast majority of fraud cases that Keith Ellison’s office has prosecuted, almost no one goes to jail, almost no one ends up with a felony on their record, and the fraudsters pay at most just pennies on the dollars of what they’ve stolen,” Schutz said in a statement to Barn Raiser*.*\n\nEllison has maintained that his office [held the Feeding Our Future fraudsters accountable][54] to the extent they had jurisdiction to, [increased staff][55] to prosecute fraud in the future, won [over 300][56] Medicaid fraud convictions, and [advocated][57] for state-level legislation to increase Medicaid fraud penalties and aid enforcement (legislation that Schutz [opposed][58]). Ellison [defended himself][59] by saying that it is the judge’s decision, not the attorney general’s, to determine if a crime rises to a felony-level sentence. Ellison told Barn Raiser that he oversees a top-performing Medicaid fraud unit, which ranked, on average, “fifth in fraud convictions across the entire country over the last six years.”\n\n[Until recently][60], Schutz was a partner at a national law firm, [Robins Kaplan][61]. He chaired former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s judicial selection commission and served on the board of [the Center for the American Experiment][62], a conservative Minnesota think tank with [ties to the Koch brothers][63]. The organization opposes [teachers’ unions][64] and [renewable energy][65], among other issues. In addition to fighting fraud, Schutz is [campaigning][66] on familiar conservative priorities such as combating crime, supporting law enforcement, and barring trans athletes from girls’ sports.\n\nAs a trial attorney, Schutz [specialized][67] [in][68] litigating environmental insurance conflicts and suing corporations for patent infringement. Schutz [says][69] he will “bring that same fight to protect Minnesota families and defend consumers.” When asked by MPR about the factors he’d consider for enforcing consumer protection laws or challenging harmful business practices, Schutz was vague.\n\n“If they committed wrongdoing and Minnesotans were harmed, the attorney general should take action against that,” he said.\n\nBarn Raiser asked Schutz how he would support rural communities.\n\n“I grew up on a dairy farm in Southwestern Minnesota near the small town of Adrian,” he said. “I understand rural communities. These are my people and when I’m attorney general I will make sure that they are heard and their issues addressed.”\n\nEllison criticized Schutz for having [$1.74 million in personal stock holdings][70] in the very corporations he will be expected to prosecute. Schutz has [promised][71] that, if elected, he will put his investments under blind management and divest holdings from companies sued by the state.\n\nWhen it comes to challenging the federal government, Schutz noted that he called for a joint state and federal investigation into the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. On MPR, Schutz said he has no problem suing the Trump administration if they are “truly hurting Minnesotans.” However, he dismissed many of the multi-state cases brought against the federal government as “political theatre.” When asked by MPR if there was a specific case that Minnesota joined that Schutz had a problem with, Schutz admitted that he has not had the time to look at all of those cases.\n\nNearly 420,000 votes have been [cast in-person or by mail][72] during the first five weeks of early voting. How Minnesota responds to corporate power and an increasingly authoritarian federal government now lies in the hands of its voters.\n\n*Full disclosure: The author works for the Open Markets Institute, which has provided subject area research to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and spoken at their legal education events.*\n\n[Leave a comment][73]\n\n[Share][74]\n\n[1]: https://barnraisingmedia17744.activehosted.com/f/71\n[2]: https://barnraisingmedia17744.activehosted.com/f/71\n[3]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/28/voter-guide-see-minnesota-attorney-general-candidates-stances\n[4]: https://www.startribune.com/keep-an-eye-on-the-minnesota-ags-race-for-2026/601231474\n[5]: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-elections/minnesota-attorney-general-results/\n[6]: https://www.newsweek.com/republican-leads-minnesota-poll-democrats-seat-decades-12454517\n[7]: https://fox59.com/news/national-world/minnesota-democrats-lead-michelle-tafoya-mike-lindell-in-upcoming-elections/\n[8]: https://attorneysgeneral.org/multistate-lawsuits-vs-the-federal-government/\n[9]: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-wins-case-blocking-trump-administrations-attacks\n[10]: https://republicanags.com/\n[11]: https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2026/10/23/elon-musk-koch-and-big-tobacco-bankroll-republican-ags-group/\n[12]: https://www.propublica.org/article/raga-gop-jan6-amazon-walmart-comcast-contributions\n[13]: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/democratic-outlook-brightens-in-races-for-vital-state-ag-posts/\n[14]: https://prospect.org/2026/03/30/apr-2026-magazine-when-ice-blows-through-rural-america-minnesota/\n[15]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/operation-metro-surge-impact-on-rural-mn-meatpacking-towns-mar-26\n[16]: https://www.startribune.com/with-ice-surge-spreading-across-state-rumors-and-anxiety-grow-in-greater-minnesota/601562255\n[17]: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72132615/state-of-minnesota-v-noem/\n[18]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/23/trump-administration-stopped-sharing-evidence-in-good-pretti-killings-minnesota-officials-say\n[19]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue-state\n[20]: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-schemes-what-we-know/\n[21]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/10/22_EvergreenRecovery.asp\n[22]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/06/08/politics-friday-kieth-ellison\n[23]: https://www.naag.org/attorney-general/keith-ellison/\n[24]: https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/06/why-keith-ellison-leaving-safe-seat-congress-make-risky-bid-minnesota-attorn/\n[25]: https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/06/why-keith-ellison-leaving-safe-seat-congress-make-risky-bid-minnesota-attorn/\n[26]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Rule-Of-Law/Litigation/\n[27]: https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/02/us-federal-court-blocks-snap-funding-cuts-over-states-refusal-to-share-recipient-data/\n[28]: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72353395/state-of-minnesota-v-oz/\n[29]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/06_ACF_FundingFreeze.asp\n[30]: https://www.startribune.com/ag-invites-minnesotans-struggling-with-medical-debt-collections-to-share-their-stories/600298148\n[31]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/03/14_MayoClinic.asp\n[32]: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-settlement-on-medical-debt-saves-hutchinson-health-patients-184000/600069199\n[33]: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-settlement-on-medical-debt-saves-hutchinson-health-patients-184000/600069199\n[34]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/opioids/\n[35]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/07/17_Glenmark.asp\n[36]: https://www.axios.com/2026/03/10/live-nation-ticketmaster-state-antitrust\n[37]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2023/09/26_Amazon.asp\n[38]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/04/17_Google.asp\n[39]: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-states-sue-deere-company-protect-farmers-unfair-corporate-tactics-high-repair-costs\n[40]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/doj-agristats-suit-oct-23?rq=DOJ\n[41]: https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/youll-own-nothing-and-be-happy-why\n[42]: https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/economic-liberties-condemns-doj-for-dropping-agri-stats-meatpacking-cartel-case/\n[43]: https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/agri-stats-settlement-may-26\n[44]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/record-pac-money-flowing-to-minnesota-attorney-general-race/\n[45]: https://cfb.mn.gov/reports-and-data/viewers/campaign-finance/large-contribution-notices/\n[46]: https://www.growthmn.com/here-s-what-jim-schultz-s-minnesota-private-business-council-is-up-to/\n[47]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republicans-see-minnesota-fraud-scandal-as-a-chance-to-go-on-offense-in-a-blue-state\n[48]: https://apnews.com/article/feeding-our-future-pandemic-fraud-trial-847f42be252ecd373c60125fd4fae6e9\n[49]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/minnesota-welfare-fraud-scandal.html\n[50]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/16/campaign-ads-blame-fraud-violence-on-somali-minnesotans\n[51]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2022/09/26_FeedingOurFuture.asp\n[52]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/ag-candidate-schutz-says-hes-ready-to-break-60-year-losing-streak-for-gop/\n[53]: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/keith-ellison-defends-fraud-record-trump-lawsuits-in-tight-minnesota-attorney-general-race/?intcid=CNR-02-0623\n[54]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2022/09/26_FeedingOurFuture.asp\n[55]: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/10/21/keith-ellison-running-for-minnesota-attorney-general-in-2026\n[56]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/25_MedicaidFraud.asp\n[57]: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/25_MedicaidFraud.asp\n[58]: https://ronformnag.com/Release.html\n[59]: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/in-minnesota-convicted-fraudsters-often-end-up-with-no-felonies-on-their-records/\n[60]: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/top-twin-cities-trial-star-ditches-power-firm-to-take-on-keith-ellison/\n[61]: https://www.robinskaplan.com/\n[62]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/\n[63]: https://www.desmog.com/center-american-experiment/\n[64]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/news/?issue=unions\n[65]: https://www.americanexperiment.org/reports/shattered-green-dreams\n[66]: https://www.ronformnag.com/priorities.html\n[67]: https://www.lawdragon.com/lawyer-limelights/2022-07-14-legends-limelight-ronald-j-schutz\n[68]: https://tcbmag.com/notable/ronald-schutz/\n[69]: https://www.ronformnag.com/home.html\n[70]: https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/09/29/minnesota-republican-ag-candidates-stock-portfolio-presents-174-potential-conflicts-of-interest/\n[71]: https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/10/02/at-ag-debate-republican-ron-schutz-commits-to-putting-stocks-in-blind-trust/\n[72]: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/in-person-early-voting-minnesota-heres-what-to-know/\n[73]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/minnesota-keith-ellison-ron-schutz-republicans/comments\n[74]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/minnesota-keith-ellison-ron-schutz-republicans?utm_source=substack\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=share\u0026action=share\n\n\nhttps://www.dropsitenews.com/p/minnesota-keith-ellison-ron-schutz-republicans",
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