Minnesota Senate Race Hit With New Twist

Republican Senate nominee Michele Tafoya is using a state fraud probe that touches a longtime friend of Democratic rival Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Minnesota DHS confirmed open investigations into Milestone Development Center and Spectrum Therapy Center. “These agencies are on our radar,” a spokesperson said, declining further detail because the cases are active.

Both providers were terminated from Medicaid months ago in the 2026 revalidation sweep and have appealed.

Milestone is run by Nimco Ahmed, a DFL activist Flanagan has called a friend of almost 25 years. Ahmed stood with Flanagan at a Somali market visit where the lieutenant governor wore a hijab and said the Somali community is “part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota.”

There is no public allegation that Flanagan is personally under investigation.

Former Milestone therapist Grant Morgan told Alpha News that in late 2023 he never saw required clinical supervisors, that some staff seemed unqualified, that he was not asked for Medicaid session notes, and that some clients did not appear to have autism. He said he did not handle billing.

Ahmed called the questions “bias” and said the center was targeted because she is Somali. She said oversight was in place, children had diagnoses, and the program is audited.

Tafoya has made fraud the core of her pitch against the Walz-Flanagan years. Polls have shown a tight race. The Ahmed probe gives Republicans a personal hook even without charging the nominee.