(The Center Square) – Republican candidates in several key Minnesota races are raising concerns about immigrant gang activity as the state struggles with a series of shootings linked to Somali youth gangs in the Twin Cities.
In response to the violence, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has established a new task force to address the issue.
The BCA is also scheduled to meet with local law enforcement officials Friday afternoon to discuss ways to combat the growing problem.
With just 25 days until Election Day, the violence is emerging as a key issue in Minnesota’s election campaigns.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, have each issued multiple statements addressing the issue.
“The Walz status quo isn’t working,” the 59-year-old said. “Our campaign is committed to making Minnesota a safer place to live, work and raise a family. We’re listening to our local communities about the best ways to strengthen public safety and crack down on Somali gang violence.”
On Friday, she added a promise to support law enforcement.
“Enough is enough,” Demuth said. “No community should be defined by the actions of a few. And every community deserves to be safe from gang violence. I will fight to give law enforcement the resources they need to protect Minnesotans.”
Tafoya expressed similar concerns, though calling out her opponent Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan by name.
“We cannot allow Somali gang violence to continue threatening our neighborhoods and communities,” Tafoya said. “Peggy Flanagan has presided over this explosion in gang violence. This has happened on her watch. She has no answers and no solutions. Minnesotans deserve leaders who will confront this violence, support law enforcement, and demand accountability. I will.”
Republicans blame a “soft-on-crime” approach from Democrats, as well as cuts to funding for the gang activity.
Flanagan has not addressed crime recently, instead focusing on Medicaid access, the Iran war, and cost-of-living issues.
Democrat U.S. Senator and gubernatorial candidate Amy Klobuchar has briefly touched on crime, releasing a statement earlier this week regarding a thwarted terrorist attack at the Mall of America.
“This shows why we continue to need major coordinated investments in anti-terrorism and local law enforcement to stop attacks like these,” Klobuchar said. “Our state must take terrorism and violent crime head on, working with our federal law enforcement and local police departments to keep Minnesotans safe.”
This all comes as new data from both state and federal law enforcement for 2025 shows drops in violent crimes, including rapes, assaults, and theft in Minnesota.
That said, there are still some concerned about persistently high crime rates in the state’s metropolitan areas, as previously reported by The Center Square.
“A large part of violent crime in our region, especially in the Twin Cities, comes from gang activity. Our agents work closely with local, state, and federal partners to target offenders in groups that cause the most harm,” said Benni Jonsson, an assistant special agent in charge at the Minneapolis FBI office. “When we remove violent offenders and their illegal guns, neighborhoods feel safer right away.”
Helena, Mont. — The weather may look sunny now, but snow is projected in the forecast for the weekend. That pushed the City of Helena Street Division to get ready for the first significant snowfall expected this weekend as city crews prepare to keep roads clear and safe.City of Helena Deputy Director of Transportation Chris Couey said crews are on standby in case the weather arrived over the weekend.“We do have people standing by so if we do get weather over the weekend, we’ll have people ready to get in trucks and clear everything out,” said Couey.Couey explained the street division always expects Montana’s first snowfall before Halloween. He said officials started outfitting city vehicles as plow trucks in September.The city has six plow trucks ready to go. During winter, Helena normally has as many as 10 vehicles in operation.If heavy snow fell, the city plans to clear emergency snow routes first. After that, drivers would move into areas such as neighborhoods.Couey said that first priority helps keep key travel routes open.“To make sure services like emergency services and everybody can actually get by and get to where they need to go,” said Couey.Couey said one of the first challenges for both the city and the public is safe driving during the season’s first snowfall. He urges drivers to slow down and use caution on the roads this weekend and early next week.“People have been nice and cruising all summer long. So for sure exercise some caution when you’re on the roads this weekend and early next week,” said Couey.Couey also said the city has new plow truck drivers and asks residents to be patient and avoid crowding the plows.
(The Center Square) - U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, is framing his campaign for governor around economic affordability, water management and border security, drawing a sharp contrast with the Democratic incumbent, Gov. Katie Hobbs.
(The Center Square) – Polling deficit, disapproval of the president, and recent shifts in campaign strategy by super PACs are evolving a dynamic that further favors Democrat Roy Cooper over Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina’s election for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Elyse Apel, a graduate of Hillsdale College, is a reporter for The Center Square covering Minnesota and Michigan. Her work has appeared in a range of national outlets, including the Washington Examiner, The American Spectator, and The Daily Wire.
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