State Auditor 2026 Primary Election Guide: Republicans

Website: linktr.ee/willfinn26

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Website: nategeorgeformnstateauditor.com

Party endorsed

Age on Election Day: (Field left blank)

Community: Braham

Employment: Mayor of Braham, Director of Investigations for a Gaming Regulatory Agency

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Auditing & compliance, fraud investigations, criminal investigations, administrative law, Certified Paralegal, Certified Fraud Examiner, local government finances, executive leadership, decorated combat veteran

Editor's note: George is not a Certified Fraud Examiner, according to MinnPost. That designation is awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Why are you running?

The most highly qualified candidate in the race in 50 years. I am the only one with the background, education and experience in every core responsibility of the State Auditor's Office. Electing politicians with no background or experience in this role is directly linked to rising government spending year over year for half a decade. We can't keep electing people with no business being in this office and expecting a different outcome. It's time to get an expert in the role, who can honestly deliver tangible results and stemming the rise of property taxes by keeping government accountable to how tax dollars are spent.

Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?

Being a good doctor or good accountant, doesn't make you a good auditor any more than it makes you a good mechanic. Knowing how to balance a checkbook is not remotely close to knowing how to perform professional audits or knowing what to look for in rooting out fraud in public finances. Not having an expert auditor as our State Auditor has allowed government spending to rise year over year for the last 50 years. It's time we stop electing people into offices they have no business being in. It's time we take advantage of the opportunity to elect the most highly qualified person for this office in 50 years. The last thing we want is someone who knows how to cover their own tracks. It's time we get real tangible results instead of rhetoric and incompetency.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

Auditing and oversight of local government finances. Sets auditing standards for audits of local governments. Investigates complaints or suspicions of fraud or misuse of public funds. Builds cases and refers for prosecution to County Attorneys or Attorney General. Recognizes and identifies best practices in local government fiscal management and shares with other local governments across the state. Collects, analyzes and reports on information regarding financial sustainability of local government to State Legislature and Governor.

What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

Streamline the office with more proactive tracking tools and monitoring of local government finances. Reduce government spending by aggressive consistent auditing and corrective actions of poor fiscal management practices. Holding those accountable who enable public funds fraud or misuse by enacting a Joint Task Force with the Attorney Generals Office to collaborate on fraud investigations and prosecutions.

Contributed

Website: https://www.drscottjensen.com/

Age on Election Day: 71

Community: Chaska

Employment: Catalyst Medical Clinic, Founder/Physician

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

I have multiple degrees and advanced certifications from the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas. Additionally, for 40 years I served in positions that extensively prepared me to execute the duties of the OSA. I served as the Audit Chair for a $1B financial institution for more than a decade. I’ve demonstrated executive guidance by serving on boards for accountants, banks, my local school district, and multiple Chambers of Commerce, shaping financial decisions and ensuring transparency. In the MN Senate I was a strong champion and chief author of health care legislation focusing on transparency and ensuring life-saving medication availability. I founded and operated multiple successful businesses and medical clinics. My years as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of MN provides me with an ideal background and skillset to support local governments with financial best practices, internal controls, and compliance. https://www.drscottjensen.com/about.html

Why are you running?

I firmly believe that to whom much is given, much is expected.
The State Auditor role is about public service and leadership - particularly in human services and healthcare which underscores the fact that my skill-set as both a physician and former Vice Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee uniquely qualify me for this position.

Minnesotans have endured years of waste, fraud, and abuse which has been allowed to proceed virtually unchecked by our current government leaders. No more! I understand that we have a trust problem in this state. The only way to restore that trust is for leaders like me to continue to stand in the gap and hold people accountable. I have demonstrated bold leadership throughout my years as a husband, father, business owner, state senator, and a board member. I look forward to bringing that bold servant leadership back to St. Paul.

Editor’s note: The state Department of Human Services audits county human service funds and is responsible for county human services oversight.

Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?

With bold courage I stood up for Minnesotans speaking truth to power during the COVID years and confronting the Tim Walz/Keith Ellison look-the-other-way era of fraudulent lying, cheating, and stealing. I put everything on the line - my livelihood, my license, my reputation - in order to defend free speech and health freedom for all. I am the most experienced and qualified leader in this race and the most electable candidate - with nearly a million social media followers, huge name recognition, and a history of record-setting fundraising! The lack of effective leadership in MN government is the true crisis of our time. I will disrupt the current sloppy culture of chaos by building a disciplined team of mission-driven financial experts, forensic investigators, and AI specialists to ensure the protection of Minnesotans’ hard-earned paychecks, the restoration of fiscal integrity, and accountable compliance with the law.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

First and foremost, the State Auditor is a LEADER who serves the citizens of Minnesota! Through its seven divisions, the role of the office is to monitor financial conduct and verify compliance by overseeing the finances of local municipalities - counties, cities, towns, and school districts - in order to ensure financial integrity and accountability. The OSA reviews investments, financial reporting, and compliance of hundreds of local public pension plans. In all, the OSA oversees approximately $60 billion in annual local government finances. The OSA is the lead agency for the federal statewide single audit. The OSA sits on six state boards and the Executive Council. Most importantly, the State Auditor is an executive leader who reports to all Minnesotans and functions independently of the Governor.

What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

If given the privilege of serving as Minnesota State Auditor, I would seek to accomplish the following goals:
Successfully collaborate with the legislative auditor, MMB Commissioner, all branches of government, and the Office of the Inspector General in constructing a clearly defined system of fiscal accountability without gaps in responsibilities (which too often promotes a blame-game mentality.)
Dramatically reduce impact and frequency of unfunded mandates imposed on local counties, cities, towns, and school districts.
Create pathways for all Minnesotans to help stop fraud, protect whistleblowers, and support a statewide initiative regarding government programs that calls for all people to live by the creed: “If you see something, say something!”

Editor’s note: While the state auditor may advocate for legislation, changes to state mandates are made by the state Legislature.