Why the Minnesota State Auditor Matters for Housing
When we think about elections, it’s often the highest profile races that get the most attention. But many of the decisions that shape our communities happen closer to home. That’s why it’s important to learn about all the offices that can influence housing, infrastructure, and local investments.
One of those offices is the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor!
What Does the State Auditor Do?
The State Auditor is responsible for overseeing local government finances across Minnesota. The office helps ensure transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public dollars at the city, county, and township level. It plays an important role in overseeing the systems and resources that help communities function and grow.
For a deeper look at the Minnesota State Auditor’s responsibilities and how the office serves local governments across the state, visit the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor website.
Why Does This Matter for Housing?
The State Auditor has a direct connection to housing through their role on the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Board, which oversees many of the state’s affordable housing and homeownership programs. The State Auditor also serves on several other state boards that make decisions about public resources, land, and investments that can affect communities across Minnesota.
For housing advocates, that means the person elected to this office will help shape conversations and decisions that influence housing opportunities throughout the state.
Ask the Candidates for State Auditor about Housing
Minnesotans deserve to know where candidates stand on issues that matter to their communities. Use this action alert to ask all three candidates for State Auditor about addressing housing affordability in Minnesota.
See State Auditor Candidates’ Housing Responses
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (Habitat Minnesota) has invited all three candidates for the Minnesota State Auditor Office to complete our 2026 Candidate Questionnaire on Housing. The questionnaire asks candidates to share how they would approach their responsibilities on the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) Board and address Minnesota’s housing challenges. This questionnaire does not serve as an endorsement for any candidate or political party.
Collected responses are unedited and posted below in each candidate’s respective tab. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Candidate responses in italics.
Q1: With Minnesotans facing rising costs across the entire housing spectrum – from unhoused neighbors and renters to families trying to purchase their first home – how will you approach your role on the MHFA Board to expand housing supply, promote affordability, and strengthen housing stability to ensure all Minnesotans have a safe, stable place to call home?
As a former City Councilor in Duluth, affordable housing was a critical part of my work. Like Duluth, many communities across Minnesota are facing a housing crisis where safe, affordable housing feels unattainable. The State Auditor has a seat on the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) board, which supports the development and redevelopment of affordable housing across the state. This type of local, sustainable financing allows for first-in financing for projects coming to the MHFA board and other financing opportunities for approval. These projects include rehabilitation projects, multifamily housing projects and projects with social services support. During my time on the Duluth City Council, I supported the addition of permanent, recurring funding dollars for the Duluth Housing Trust Fund in support of the Affordable Housing Coalition because communities deserve recurring funding and stability. As State Auditor, I’ll continue this work through my seat on the MHFA board to expand affordable housing development, first-time homeownership opportunities, and financing tools for families across Minnesota. That includes support for local housing trust funds, redevelopment financing, and municipal partnerships that increase housing supply and preserve affordable pathways for renters, manufactured home residents, and homeowners. Communities cannot solve the housing crisis on their own. They need the tools, financing, and support to make progress. I’ll advocate for stronger local housing trust funds and recurring, long-term redevelopment financing that is tied to Community Benefits Agreements. I’ll also use the platform to lift up conversations from housing justice organizations and partners. As we look toward Minnesota’s future, we must also plan support for the gap in affordable senior housing to allow people to age with dignity. Homeownership shouldn’t feel like a pipe dream. When local governments have the right resources, they can help more families build stability and wealth close to home.
Party: Republican
Candidate responses in italics.
Q1: With Minnesotans facing rising costs across the entire housing spectrum – from unhoused neighbors and renters to families trying to purchase their first home – how will you approach your role on the MHFA Board to expand housing supply, promote affordability, and strengthen housing stability to ensure all Minnesotans have a safe, stable place to call home?
As State Auditor, I will focus on strengthening housing stability and promoting affordability by providing rigorous financial oversight of available funds intended for housing supply and affordability.
I will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that the allocation of resources is based on reproducible metrics, observational data, and longitudinal successes, making certain that every dollar appropriated for housing reaches Minnesotans who need it.
I will create a housing sub-committee within the OSA to ensure that housing investments are executed in a timely fashion with the highest fiscal integrity.
I will leverage the OSA’s dual role as a statewide fiduciary and auditor of local municipalities to ensure that all Minnesotans recognize the impact of the housing crisis which threatens the fabric of our communities and the economic stability of our state.
I will utilize a seat on the MHFA board to advance housing stability through several key strategies: 1) financial oversight to prevent fraud, 2) utilize local government financial data to innovate and create opportunities for towns and cities of all sizes, 3) resource optimization within overlapping local municipalities 4) strengthen accountability through internal controls, segregation of duties, and compliance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).
In summary, housing stability, supply, and affordability are critical issues. Solutions must include eliminating fraud, stopping neglectful leakage of public funds, and preserving long-term viability of existing housing assets including all manners of domiciles, whether owner-occupied, managed or rented.
Party: Forward Independence
Candidate responses in italics.
Q1: With Minnesotans facing rising costs across the entire housing spectrum – from unhoused neighbors and renters to families trying to purchase their first home – how will you approach your role on the MHFA Board to expand housing supply, promote affordability, and strengthen housing stability to ensure all Minnesotans have a safe, stable place to call home?
Housing affordability is personal to me and my family, and it is one of the reasons I am running for State Auditor.
One of my family members has been unhoused for more than seven years, struggling to find safe, stable housing and the support needed to rebuild his life. He was participating in a recovery program that was later found to have overbilled the government for reimbursements. When the program was shut down, he was forced back onto the streets, restarting the difficult cycle of recovery and searching for a safe place to live.
I also see the impact of rising housing costs on my own adult daughters, who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing and establish themselves financially. When I was in my early 20s, finding safe, affordable housing was much more attainable. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to make that same opportunity possible for the next generation.
As a Retired Army Major, I also want to continue the important work Minnesota has done to virtually eliminate veteran homelessness. Every veteran who has served our country deserves the opportunity to find stability, rebuild their life, and have a place to call home. We must protect the programs and resources that make this possible while ensuring they remain accountable and effective.
As a voting member of the Minnesota Housing Board Board, I will stand up for Minnesota’s most vulnerable individuals and families by ensuring public funds are used as intended. That means holding government-funded programs accountable, verifying that laws and regulations are followed, and strengthening oversight to help prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Every dollar intended to support housing stability, recovery, and other essential services must reach the people and programs it was appropriated to serve.
The State Auditor does not set housing policy or build homes, but the office plays a critical role in ensuring public resources are managed responsibly and deliver the results Minnesotans deserve.
Every Minnesotan deserves a safe, stable place to call home. We have an obligation to protect the resources intended to help people get there and ensure those resources make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Learn About other Candidates’ Housing Priorities
A strong housing ecosystem depends on decisions made by elected officials across state government. Understanding candidates’ housing priorities can help you assess how they plan to support communities across Minnesota. Explore the resources below to learn more.
Habitat Minnesota and Minnesota Housing Partnership created a nonpartisan housing questionnaire for legislative candidates. Before you vote, take time to learn where candidates for the MN House and the MN Senate stand on the housing issues impacting your community.
Watch the State Fair housing forum featuring Minnesota’s gubernatorial candidates, presented by Family Housing Fund, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, and Housing First MN, in partnership with KARE 11. We appreciate the candidates and event organizers for highlighting the important conversation around housing affordability, housing supply, and the need for homes that work for Minnesotans across the state.
You can now view your sample ballot for the upcoming election on November 3.
Learn More about the 2026 election and what voters need to be ready to vote at our recent blog: 2026 Minnesota Voter Guide: Resources to Help You Get Ready to Vote