¶ Overview
Tafoya made tackling fraud the centerpiece of her campaign, even claiming it was the reason she decided to run for Senate. Despite the resulting harm to working families, she supported the Trump Administration's move to cut off Medicaid funds to Minnesota—all in the name of stopping alleged fraud. Yet, FEC records show that Tafoya accepted thousands of dollars from Dean Bundtrock, a fraudster who cost investors $6 billion and paid the largest SEC fine in history for accounting fraud.
¶ Tafoya Complained About Fraud But Took Money From A Massive Fraudster
¶ Tafoya Focused On The Fraud Scandal In Minnesota
Tafoya Said The Fraud Scandal Was “Epic” And “Massive.” According to Fox News, “Turning to Minnesota's other crisis, Tafoya said, ‘This fraud scandal is epic, and it's huge, and I don't think we've seen the end of it.’ More than 90 people — most from Minnesota's large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation's largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But prosecutors say it could total as much as $9 billion. Some of the dozens who have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, according to prosecutors, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists. ‘I think if Minnesotans aren't angry already, they need to look at their pay stubs, look at how much gets taken out in taxes, and ask themselves, what did that get me? Did that get me anything? Did that fill a pothole, or did I buy someone a Rolex?’ Tafoya said. ‘I mean, that's what, really what we're talking about here.’ ‘This fraud is massive. We need to get to the bottom of it. We need to ask hard questions, get to the facts, make it stop, hold people accountable, and that's why I'm running,’ she added.” [Fox News, 1/21/26]
¶ Tafoya Said The “Crisis” Over Fraud Motivated Her To Get Into The Race
Tafoya Said The “Crisis” Over Fraud Motivated Her To Get Into The Race. According to Axios Twin Cities, “State of play: Tafoya joins a field of about a half dozen candidates running to be the GOP nominee to succeed retiring DFL U.S. Sen. Tina Smith. • U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are locked in a heated fight for the DFL nomination. Zoom in: Minnesota Republicans have tried for years to recruit Tafoya to run for office. She told Axios that seeing the state in ‘crisis’ over fraud and other issues motivated her to get into the race. • ‘I realized that these career politicians are not going to save us,’ she said. ‘We've got to do it ourselves.’” [Axios Twin Cities, 1/21/26]
Tafoya Said That Minnesota Was At A “Tipping Point” With Fraud And She Got To The Point Where She Needed To Run. According to Breitbart, “Tafoya makes her decision while there are accusations of widespread taxpayer fraud throughout Minnesota. ‘Minnesota is at a tipping point. We’ve had a failure, an epic failure of leadership here, and all the career politicians who are in office or also running for office again aren’t coming to save us,’ she told Breitbart News. ‘And so I’ve just gotten pushed to the point where I decided to raise my hand, and I do it gladly because I love this state.’” [Breitbart, 1/21/26]
¶ Tafoya Said That Fraud Was “Certainly At The Forefront” Of The Election
Tafoya Said That Fraud Was “Certainly At The Forefront” Of The Election. According to Fox News, “ A Senate Republican hopeful eyeing Minnesota’s open seat accused Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of turning a blind eye to a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Michele Tafoya, 61, is running to replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., in a crowded race where Republicans have heavily targeted Walz and Ellison over a nearly $10 billion daycare, food aid and health clinic fraud scheme that unfolded under their noses. This widespread theft could flip a Senate seat red in Minnesota for the first time since 2008, Tafoya insisted in an interview with Fox News Digital, adding that people in her state are ‘angry.’ ‘Fraud is certainly at the forefront’ of this election, she said.” [Fox News, 4/20/26]
¶ Tafoya Praised The Trump Administration For Cutting Off Medicaid Funds To Minnesota
Tafoya Praised The Trump Administration For Cutting Off Medicaid Funds To Minnesota. Michele Tafoya tweeted, “Tim Walz enabled the fraud that stole money from families and children in real need. Thank you @POTUS Trump and @VP Vance for taking action to stop this abuse and hold those responsible accountable.” [Twitter, @Michele_Tafoya, 2/25/26]
Tafoya Voiced Support For The Trump Administration’s Moves To Withhold Medicaid Funding From Minnesota. According to Fox News, “Thirdly, Tafoya voiced support for the Trump administration’s recent moves to temporarily halt hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to states that fail to implement anti-fraud controls. The Trump administration recently announced it would withhold roughly $260 million in Medicaid funding to Minnesota until the state government puts guardrails in place to eliminate fraud. Federal officials have said the state could see more than $1 billion in deferred payments if Walz fails to comply with the president’s ‘war on fraud.’” [Fox News, 3/5/26]
¶ Tafoya Supported Legislation To Allow For Immigrants Who Are Convicted Of Fraud To Be Deported
Tafoya Said She Would Cosponsor The Deporting Fraudsters Act, Which Would Allow For Noncitizens Who Are Convicted Of Fraud To Be Deported. According to Fox News, “Tafoya said she would cosponsor the Deporting Fraudsters Act, which would allow for noncitizens who are convicted of fraud to be deported and barred from entering the United States. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced the legislation in 2025, but the bill has since stalled in the Senate. ’If you are an immigrant in this country, you are a guest of this country, and you are convicted of defrauding the American people, you will be deported,’ Tafoya said.” [Fox News, 3/5/26]
¶ Tafoya Called For New Mandatory Minimum Sentences For Americans Involved In Fraud Schemes
Tafoya Said That She Would Work To Enact New Mandatory Minimum Sentences For Americans Involved In Fraud Schemes. According to Fox News, “Tafoya is also pledging to crack down on Americans convicted of stealing taxpayer money. She told Fox News Digital that she would work to enact new mandatory minimum sentences for those involved in fraud schemes. ‘This is not a second-class crime anymore,’ the Minnesota Republican added. ‘This deserves the full weight of the law.’” [Fox News, 3/5/26]
¶ Tafoya Took $5,000 From Alleged Fraudster Dean Buntrock
Tafoya Accepted $5,000 From Alleged Fraudster Dean Buntrock And His Wife. Michael Brodkorb posted, “Dean Buntrock and his wife contributed $5,000 to Tafoya For Senate. FEC records confirm it. Buntrock is the former CEO of Waste Management Inc. The SEC accused him of leading a multibillion-dollar accounting fraud from 1992 to 1997.” [Twitter, @mbrodkorb, 4/16/26]
¶ Buntrock Paid The Largest Accounting Fraud Fine In SEC History To The Tune Of $2.3 Million After Defrauding Shareholders For $6 Billion
Buntrock Paid The Largest Accounting Fraud Fine In SEC History To The Tune Of $2.3 Million After Defrauding Shareholders For $6 Billion. Michael Brodkorb posted, “The SEC said the fraud cost shareholders $6 billion. Buntrock paid $2.3 million. That was the largest fine ever imposed on an individual in an SEC accounting fraud case. He neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing.” [Twitter, @mbrodkorb, 4/16/26]
New York Times: Ex-Officers Of Waste Company Settle Case [New York Timmes, 8/30/05]