Lisa Demuth has a clear message for fraudsters: Steal from Minnesota, and you're going to jail.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Political ads · 2026 · MN
Minnesota Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Amy Klobuchar (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), Lisa Demuth (Republican) and Steven Young (Green) are the candidates for governor of Minnesota in the November 3, 2026 general election. Semblen has analyzed 97 ads in this race; 38 used at least one manipulation technique, most often loaded language and glittering generalities. Next date for voters: Registration deadline: Tue, Oct 13.
Amy Klobuchar (DFL), Lisa Demuth (REP), Steven Young (GRE). On the ballot as listed by Ballotpedia. 97 ads analyzed, 38 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08.
How to vote in Minnesota
From Minnesota's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Next: Registration deadline: Tue, Oct 13 (in 5 days)
| Registration | Register by Tue, Oct 13 (registration closed during the 20 days before the election, so last day is the 21st day before; online, mail, or in person). Same-day registration: at your polling place with proof of residence (ID, approved document, or a registered voter vouching)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗ |
|---|---|
| Early voting in person | Fri, Sep 18 to Mon, Nov 2 (in-person absentee during the 46 days before; ballot-into-tabulator early voting in the last 18 days (from Oct 16))Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗ |
| By mail | Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Mon, Nov 2 (any time up to the day before the election; mail time makes a late request risky); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by 8 p.m. Election Day; envelopes arriving later are marked late and not counted)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗ |
| Election Day | Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗ |
| ID at the polls | No ID needed if registered; voter signs the polling place roster. Election Day registrants need proof of residenceSource: revisor.mn.gov ↗ |
Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
A person reads every report and fixes errors the same day.
Findings
As of 2026-10-08. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
- Ads analyzed
- 97 (Meta 94, YouTube 3) · started running between 2026-06-28 and 2026-10-08
- With at least one technique
- 38 of 97 (39%)
- Most common techniques
- Loaded Language · 21 adsGlittering Generalities · 17 adsAppeal to Prejudice · 13 ads
- Meta
- 38 of 94 (40%) flagged · Loaded Language (21), Glittering Generalities (17), Appeal to Prejudice (13)
- YouTube
- 0 of 3 flagged
- Reported Meta spend
- $173,000–226,752 on all ads, $108,700–138,476 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
- Example
- “accountability for fraud” — Loaded Language, paid for by MN Restore Sanity PAC · the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
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Semblen LLC · 5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
Who is running these ads
By sponsor (8)
| Paid for by | Ads | With at least one technique | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesotans for Klobuchar | 54 | 14 of 54 (26%) | Loaded Language (9), Appeal to Prejudice (8), Glittering Generalities (7) |
| MN Restore Sanity PAC | 22 | 12 of 22 (55%) | Loaded Language (10), Glittering Generalities (6), Appeal to Prejudice (4) |
| Laborers’ District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota Political Fund | 10 | 9 of 10 (90%) | Plain Folks Appeal (5), Glittering Generalities (4) |
| Alliance for a Better Minnesota State PAC | 3 | 0 of 3 | |
| Amy Klobuchar | 3 | 0 of 3 | |
| Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | 2 | 2 of 2 | Loaded Language (2), Card Stacking (1) |
| Our America | 2 | 1 of 2 | Appeal to Prejudice (1), Black-and-White Fallacy (1), Name Calling (1) |
| Minnesota Public Radio | 1 | 0 of 1 |
Decide what counts
Not everyone would call every technique manipulation. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
39% of the 97 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (38 ads).
- Words picked for the feeling, not the facts. More on loaded language, with examples →
- Feel-good words with no concrete meaning. More on glittering generalities, with examples →
- Playing on dislike of a group. More on appeal to prejudice, with examples →
- A label in place of an argument. More on name calling, with examples →
- Only two choices when there are more. More on black-and-white fallacy, with examples →
- Blowing something up past what is true. More on exaggeration/hyperbole, with examples →
- Pressure to act before you think. More on false urgency, with examples →
- "i'm just like you" in place of a record.
- "everyone's doing it" in place of a reason. More on bandwagon appeal, with examples →
- Only the facts that help one side. More on card stacking, with examples →
- Making you afraid so you stop weighing the facts. More on appeal to fear, with examples →
- Hinting at a hidden plot without evidence. More on conspiracy appeal, with examples →
- Blaming one group for a complex problem. More on scapegoating, with examples →
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 28% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
- buy in 6 ads · e.g. “buy our governor's seat”, “buy our governor's race”
- donald trump in 4 ads · e.g. “rubber stamp of Donald Trump”, “rubber stamp for Donald Trump”
- fraud in 4 ads · e.g. “the fraud”, “Amy Klobuchar didn't stop the fraud”
- governor' in 4 ads · e.g. “buy our governor's seat”, “buy our governor's race”
- rubber stamp in 4 ads · e.g. “rubber stamp of this administration”, “nothing but a rubber stamp of this administration”
- election in 3 ads · e.g. “spread lies about our elections”, “buy our election”
- fraudster in 3 ads · e.g. “not fraudsters”, “Fraudsters have had their day”
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Minnesota's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
97 ads, newest first. Video transcripts are shown as the model read them, without caption cues like [music].
Showing the 22 ads paid for by MN Restore Sanity PAC. Show all 97 ads
Minnesota deserves a government that protects taxpayers, not fraudsters. Lisa Demuth is ready to crack down on fraud from DAY ONE.
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence frames government as having only two possible orientations — protecting taxpayers or protecting fraudsters — ignoring the complexity of governance and policy — for example: "protects taxpayers, not fraudsters".
Glittering Generalities: The phrase invokes vague, emotionally positive ideals of protection and fairness without specifying any concrete policy or action — for example: 'Minnesota deserves a government that protects taxpayers'
Loaded Language: The word 'fraudsters' is a derogatory, emotionally charged label used to trigger a negative reaction and frame an unnamed opposing group — for example: 'not fraudsters'
Black-and-White Fallacy
Glittering Generalities
Loaded Language
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
WATCH: Amy Klobuchar, in her own words, bragging that she made it easier to send money to Somalia. When fraud investigators cut off cash transfers to Somalia to stop money laundering, she went to work to keep the money moving. Amy made the fraud WORSE.
Loaded Language: The word 'bragging' is emotionally charged and pejorative, framing Klobuchar's statement negatively rather than neutrally describing it as 'saying' or 'claiming' — for example: bragging
Appeal to Prejudice: The framing implies that facilitating money transfers to Somalia is inherently suspicious or objectionable, exploiting in-group/out-group anxieties about foreign nations — for example: made it easier to send money to Somalia
Loaded Language
Appeal to Prejudice
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Follow the Minnesota Governor race
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Semblen LLC · 5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
Amy Klobuchar voted to make it easier for Somali scammers to send money overseas. Lisa Demuth will CRACK down on fraud. Minnesota voters have a choice.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'Somali scammers' uses an emotionally charged, derogatory label that conflates an ethnic/national identity with criminal behavior, designed to trigger a negative reaction — for example: Somali scammers
Scapegoating: The sentence implies that a specific ethnic/national group (Somalis) are collectively scammers, blaming them as a group for financial wrongdoing — for example: Somali scammers to send money overseas
Name Calling: The term 'scammers' is applied as a derogatory label to an entire ethnic group rather than to specific individuals with proven criminal records — for example: Somali scammers
Card Stacking: The sentence presents a characterization of a vote as benefiting 'scammers' without providing context about the actual legislation or its broader intended purpose, selectively framing the vote in the most negative light — for example: voted to make it easier for Somali scammers to send money overseas
Loaded Language
Scapegoating
Name Calling
Card Stacking
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Minnesota taxpayer dollars were stolen. Fraud proceeds went overseas. Amy Klobuchar pushed to keep Somali remittance channels open amid concerns about money laundering. Amy didn’t stop the fraud. She made it worse.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Amy’s record on Minnesota fraud: ❌ Questionable earmark requests ❌ Fought to preserve Somali remittance access Amy Klobuchar didn’t stop the fraud. She made it WORSE.
Loaded Language: The word 'fraud' is an emotionally charged accusation used to discredit Klobuchar without providing evidence — for example: the fraud and WORSE.
Name Calling: Klobuchar is implicitly labeled as complicit in fraud, a derogatory characterization used to discredit her rather than address policy — for example: 'Amy Klobuchar didn't stop the fraud'
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The capitalized 'WORSE' amplifies the claim beyond what is substantiated, using typographic emphasis to overstate the accusation — for example: 'made it WORSE'
Loaded Language
Name Calling
Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Amy Klobuchar’s earmark record: ❌ $1.46M requested for Generation Hope ❌ $374K requested for New American Development Center When New American Development Center was forced to repay the state, Klobuchar fought to send it even more money. Minnesota needed accountability. Amy made it worse.
Name Calling: Using only a first name ('Amy') in a dismissive, accusatory framing functions as a derogatory label rather than a substantive argument — for example: Amy made it worse.
Name Calling
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
20 years in Washington changed Amy Klobuchar. She went from opposing earmarks to requesting them for nonprofits facing fraud scrutiny. Amy didn’t stop the fraud. She made it worse.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
When Minnesota needed accountability for fraud, Amy Klobuchar was requesting taxpayer-funded earmarks for nonprofits facing fraud scrutiny. Amy made the fraud WORSE.
Card Stacking: The sentence juxtaposes 'Minnesota needing accountability for fraud' with Klobuchar's earmark requests, implying wrongdoing while omitting context such as whether the earmarks were appropriate, what the fraud scrutiny entailed, or whether there was any actual connection between the two — for example: "When Minnesota needed accountability for fraud, Amy Klobuchar was requesting taxpayer-funded earmarks for nonprofits facing fraud scrutiny".
Loaded Language: The sentence uses emotionally charged terms designed to trigger negative associations with Klobuchar rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'accountability for fraud', 'taxpayer-funded', 'fraud scrutiny'
Card Stacking
Loaded Language
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Amy Klobuchar is suddenly campaigning like she’s tough on fraud. There’s just one problem: she made Minnesota’s fraud crisis worse.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Minnesotans aren’t buying it, Amy Klobuchar.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Minnesota’s fraud crisis has become a national embarrassment, and taxpayers are the ones paying the price. Amy Klobuchar had every opportunity to stand up for Minnesotans and demand accountability. Instead, she made the fraud WORSE.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Amy Klobuchar wants Minnesotans to trust her to fight fraud. But she partnered with Ilhan Omar on a $1M+ earmark for a nonprofit later scrutinized over fraud. Amy didn’t make the fraud better. She made it worse.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Lisa Demuth is ready to clean house and put Minnesota taxpayers FIRST.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'clean house' is an emotionally charged idiom implying corruption or dysfunction that needs to be swept away, and 'FIRST' in all caps adds rhetorical emphasis to trigger an emotional response — for example: 'clean house'
Appeal to Prejudice: Framing Demuth as the champion of 'Minnesota taxpayers' invokes an in-group identity to generate loyalty and imply that opponents do not prioritize taxpayers — for example: 'Minnesota taxpayers FIRST'
Loaded Language
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Republican Lisa Demuth isn't running to maintain the status quo. She's running to tear it down. As Governor, Lisa will: 🔨 Demolish Minnesota's fraud machine 💰 Cut taxes and put money back in your pocket 👊Lead Minnesota's comeback
Loaded Language: The phrase 'fraud machine' uses emotionally charged language to characterize Minnesota's government as a corrupt, systematic entity rather than conveying factual information — for example: 'fraud machine'
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The word 'Demolish' is an extreme, violent overstatement for what would be policy reform, going far beyond what evidence or realistic governance would support — for example: 'Demolish Minnesota's fraud machine'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Lead Minnesota's comeback' uses vague, emotionally positive language that sounds inspiring but carries no specific policy meaning — for example: 'Lead Minnesota's comeback'
Appeal to Prejudice: The framing of 'put money back in your pocket' appeals to an in-group identity of taxpayers who have been wronged, implying their money has been taken by an out-group — for example: 'put money back in your pocket'
Loaded Language
Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Glittering Generalities
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Republican Lisa Demuth isn't coming to manage Minnesota's problems. She's coming to END them. Fraudsters have had their day. It's time for taxpayers to come first. On August 11, vote Lisa Demuth.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The claim that a politician will 'END' problems entirely is an extreme overstatement beyond what any realistic policy could achieve — for example: 'END them'
Glittering Generalities: The framing invokes vague, emotionally resonant notions of decisive action and total problem-solving without specifying any concrete policy or mechanism — for example: 'coming to END them'
Loaded Language: The word 'fraudsters' is an emotionally charged label used to frame an unnamed group negatively and trigger a reaction — for example: Fraudsters have had their day.
False Urgency: The phrase 'It's time' implies an overdue moment of action, creating artificial pressure to act without deliberation — for example: It's time for taxpayers to come first.
Appeal to Prejudice: Invoking 'taxpayers' as a virtuous in-group whose interests must be prioritised over an implied out-group (fraudsters) exploits identity-based loyalty — for example: taxpayers to come first.
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence implies a binary: either fraudsters benefit or taxpayers do, leaving no room for nuanced policy discussion — for example: It's time for taxpayers to come first.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Glittering Generalities
Loaded Language
False Urgency
Appeal to Prejudice
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
!!️FRAUDSTERS BEWARE!!️ Lisa Demuth is ready to clean house in Minnesota. She will demolish fraud, cut taxes, and make Minnesota affordable again. Vote Lisa Demuth for Governor on August 11.
Loaded Language: The word 'FRAUDSTERS' is a derogatory, emotionally charged label used to provoke a reaction — for example: FRAUDSTERS BEWARE
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive promises like making Minnesota 'affordable again' invoke broad aspirational values without specific policy substance — for example: 'make Minnesota affordable again'
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Claiming she will 'demolish' fraud is an extreme overstatement of what any politician can realistically accomplish — for example: 'demolish fraud'
Loaded Language
Glittering Generalities
Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Lisa Demuth will fight to lower the tax burden on families, stop wasteful spending, and hold government accountable. Minnesota’s comeback starts now.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Lisa Demuth knows Minnesota families are paying the price for reckless spending and failed leadership. Her plan is simple: cut taxes and spending, root out fraud, and start Minnesota’s comeback!
Loaded Language: The sentence uses emotionally charged phrases to frame the opposition negatively without providing factual support — for example: 'reckless spending and failed leadership'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Minnesota's comeback' is a vague, emotionally positive rallying cry that sounds noble but carries no specific meaning or measurable substance — for example: 'start Minnesota's comeback'
Card Stacking: The sentence presents the plan as straightforward and universally beneficial while omitting any complexity, trade-offs, or counterarguments to the proposed cuts — for example: 'Her plan is simple: cut taxes and spending, root out fraud'
Loaded Language
Glittering Generalities
Card Stacking
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Minnesotans work too hard to watch their tax dollars disappear into fraud, waste, and abuse. Lisa Demuth will fight to expose it and STOP it.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Lisa Demuth is ready to lead the fight to bring common sense back to Minnesota. She will: ✅ Cut taxes ✅ Cut spending ✅ Root out fraud It’s time to stand with Lisa Demuth and start Minnesota’s comeback.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'common sense' is a vague, emotionally positive term used as rhetorical flourish without specifying any concrete policy or meaning — for example: 'bring common sense back to Minnesota'
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Lisa Demuth passed the largest spending cut in Minnesota history. Now she’s ready to keep fighting for taxpayers, accountability, and a stronger Minnesota.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
What this page is
- An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in MN and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names MN's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
- The candidates are the ones certified for the November ballot, from the source linked at the top. Governors are state offices, so there are no FEC filings behind this page: no money figures, and outside groups are placed on a side only when they are a campaign or a party committee.
- Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
- A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
- Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. The check runs once and its result is shown to everyone afterwards. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
- Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
- Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.