Minnesota attorney general candidates face conflict of interest scrutiny

The Minnesota attorney general race between incumbent Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Ron Schutz has become centered on allegations of conflicts of interest.

Republican candidate Ron Schutz has faced scrutiny regarding his portfolio of 174 stocks, including significant investments in companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Schutz has pledged to insulate himself from these holdings if elected.

Simultaneously, renewed attention has turned toward Ellison following a 2025 CNN investigation into luxury overseas travel funded by the Attorney General Alliance, a nonprofit supported by corporate donations. The investigation highlighted trips involving five-star hotels and excursions such as African safaris. When questioned by CNN about these trips, Ellison defended them as “real work” before abruptly ending the interview. These travel expenses have become a central campaign issue, with opponents accusing Ellison of accepting lavish trips paid for by corporate lobbyists.