Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said Ferguson should have canceled the ‘poorly timed fundraiser,’ given the fraud scandal Walz is facing

Carleen Johnson
The Center Square Washington

See Grok’s analysis of this story

Gov. Bob Ferguson is holding a fundraising lunch on Tuesday with special guest, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is under intense fire after failing to stop a massive welfare fraud in his state.

Republicans question why Ferguson would want to be on the same stage as Walz after the national embarrassment of Somali fraudsters stealing $1 billion in Minnesota taxpayer funds and reports that of some of the money went to support a terror group. 

Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said Ferguson should have canceled the “poorly timed fundraiser,” given the fraud scandal Walz is facing.

“Ferguson is being very shady about this fundraising visit by his scandal-plagued Minnesota colleague,” he texted The Center Square. “Clearly, the growing crisis of government-benefit fraud consuming Minnesota politics right now makes the timing of this money grab questionable.”

Ferguson’s people aren’t talking despite repeated queries by The Center Square, but Washington State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad welcomed Walz to Washington.

“We are delighted to have Governor Walz visit Washington state to support Governor Ferguson,” Conrad wrote in an email to The Center Square. “Both Governor Ferguson and Governor Walz have done exemplary work leading Washington state and Minnesota during tough times. Having strong state executives, like Ferguson and Walz, is how our country will weather the storm of rising fascism from President Trump.”

As reported by The Center Square, Congress has begun an investigation into Walz related to a large-scale fraud scheme that led to hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen from Minnesota’s social welfare programs since Walz took office in January 2019.

Walz was the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election, alongside presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who served as vice president under President Joe Biden.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent letters to Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison last week, requesting copies of all of their communication concerning fraudulent activity in several programs.

A Facebook post last week from a woman named Kate Martin, whose profile indicates she is an editor at The Seattle Journal, showed a screenshot of the luncheon announcement where Martin wrote, “You can’t make this s–t up!”

The luncheon announcement indicated that a specific location would be announced “within 72 hours” of the event, but as of Monday-the location was only revealed after the purchase of a ticket. Martin emailed The Center Square the updated information showing the luncheon is being held at the Seattle Convention Center with doors opening at 11:15am. 

Tickets for a single guest started at $125, with tables starting at $1,250 with VIP tables at $1,250. 

Comments to Martin’s Facebook post about the Walz visit suggested it must be a joke.

“A meeting of the [simple-minded]. Ferguson could not have selected a worse guest. This guy continues to embarrass Washington State,” read one comment.

Another comment read, “It’s like they are not even trying to hide the stupidity and corruption. The optics of this [are] amazing.”

Walsh, who also serves in the state House of Representatives, said the fundraiser shows Ferguson is desperate for campaign cash.

“I suspect that Ferguson is being furtive because his colleague has proven to be incompetent at answering questions about the fraud scandals,” he said. “And, if Ferguson publicized the event, there would certainly be questions. Does he not care about the taint of fraud? Does he need money that desperately?”

This story has been updated since initial publication.

This report first published by The Center Square Washington.

Under the Grok Lens

Analysis created with Grok

This independent analysis was created with Grok, an AI model from xAI. It is not written or edited by ClarkCountyToday.com and is provided to help readers evaluate the article’s sourcing and context.

Quick summary

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office has declined to comment on a fundraising luncheon featuring Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held amid ongoing congressional scrutiny of large-scale welfare fraud in Minnesota during Walz’s tenure. State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh criticized the timing of the event, while Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad welcomed Walz and praised both governors’ leadership.

What Grok notices

• Clearly outlines reactions from both the Republican and Democratic state party chairs, giving readers contrasting partisan viewpoints on the luncheon.
• Provides context on the Minnesota welfare fraud investigation and explains how it connects to the congressional inquiry launched last week.
• Notes that the event’s specific location was disclosed only after ticket purchase, highlighting a fundraising practice that some readers may find noteworthy.
• Relies mainly on partisan sources to frame whether the visit is appropriate, rather than detailing the underlying fraud allegations.
• Does not describe the current status or confirmed scale of the alleged fraud; readers may wish to review official investigative findings for more detail.

Questions worth asking

• How has the congressional investigation into Minnesota’s welfare programs progressed since oversight letters were sent?
• What specific oversight failures, if any, have official audits identified in Minnesota’s fraud prevention systems during Walz’s administration?
• How do fundraising events featuring out-of-state governors typically influence state-level campaigns and messaging?
• What criteria do political parties use when deciding whether to proceed with or postpone joint appearances during active investigations?
• In what ways might national political scandals involving governors affect donor confidence and turnout at state-level fundraising events?

Research this topic more

• U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability – updates on the Minnesota welfare fraud inquiry
• Minnesota Management and Budget – official reports on state program spending and fraud cases
• Federal Bureau of Investigation – information on federal participation in large-scale fraud probes
• Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor – independent audits of state welfare and human services programs

---

Also read:

• 
  Signatures filed for initiatives on parental rights, blocking trans athletes from girls’ sports
  Supporters of two initiatives on parental rights and transgender participation in girls’ sports filed signatures Friday, moving the measures closer to consideration by Washington lawmakers.
• 
  These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1
  Several new laws and tax increases passed in 2025 take effect Jan. 1 in Washington, impacting unemployment benefits, business taxes, transportation fees, consumer costs and regulatory requirements.
• 
  Opinion: Justice for none – Court hands down a mandate without a dime to fund it
  Nancy Churchill argues that a Washington Supreme Court ruling on public defense imposes costly mandates on local governments without providing funding to implement them.
• 
  Deportations, tariffs, court clashes, record shutdown mark a historic year in Washington, D.C.
  A year marked by deportations, tariffs, court battles, and a record federal shutdown reshaped Washington, D.C., during President Donald Trump’s return to office.
• 
  Opinion: The progressive attack on Washington’s sheriffs
  Nancy Churchill argues that proposed legislation would shift power over county sheriffs away from voters and concentrate control within state government.