From the office of Senator Michael Holmstrom
Friends and neighbors,
Merry Christmas. This time of year reminds us of the origins of our faith and gives us the opportunity to reflect on all our blessings. I hope you enjoy a special Christmas with friends and family and find moments to reflect on the true gift of this season: hope, love, and salvation.
One thing I’m especially grateful for is the opportunity to serve as your Senator and represent our community in St. Paul. My predecessor, Sen. Bruce Anderson, left behind a legacy of fighting for conservative values, improving the lives of people across our district, and bringing common sense back to a state government that too often seems to have forgotten what that even means.
It has been just over a month since I was sworn in as Senator for District 29, and let me tell you, there is no shortage of work to be done. That’s why I hit the ground running. In this inaugural newsletter, I want to share what I’ve been doing on your behalf.
The very first action I took was confronting the Department of Corrections for dragging its feet on reviewing Wright County’s transition to a community corrections model. This change allows the county to directly supervise offenders on probation and deliver programming locally. The DOC’s refusal to review the county’s plan is a clear example of top-down mismanagement by the Walz administration. I plan to address this head-on with the very first bill I author in my Senate career. More on that below.
Next, you may have heard about Hennepin County Judge Sarah West overturning a guilty verdict in a $7.2 million fraud case. This decision was outrageous. I challenged the Judicial Branch to unseal the exhibits from the case and came very close to filing a lawsuit until their office reversed course and apologized for blocking public access. Friends, this is how we fight fraud: by confronting nonsensical decisions from activist judges who undermine the law. More on that below as well.
Finally, 2026 is a bonding year, and our district has several top priorities I’m fighting to secure. These projects were at the top of Sen. Anderson’s list, and I intend to finish what he started.
What has become clear to me in my short time at the Capitol is that now is not the time to sit back and let the Walz administration, unaccountable bureaucracies, and activist judges threaten our way of life. It’s time to take the fight to St. Paul, and that’s exactly what I will continue to do.
I hope you enjoy a blessed Christmas with friends and family, reflect on the foundation of your faith, and look ahead to the New Year. 2026 is going to be a big year, and we are staying in the fight.
Merry Christmas,
Michael
Corrupt activist judge reverses guilty verdict in fraud case
Just two days after I was sworn in, Hennepin County Judge Sarah West overturned a jury’s guilty verdict in a $7.2 million fraud case. You read that correctly. A jury convicted the accused fraudster, Abdifatah Abdulkadir Yusuf, and Judge West took it upon herself to overturn their decision.
Yusuf and his brother, Lul Mohamud Ahmed, were accused of stealing $7.2 million in taxpayer money through a Medicaid fraud scheme by overbilling and billing for transportation and home care services that were never provided, as reported by Alpha News.
What happened with the money? It was used to purchase luxury cars, furniture, designer clothes, and even kickbacks to collaborators involved in the scheme.
Yusuf’s company, Promise Health Services, didn’t even have a physical office and operated out of a mailbox. A massive red flag. Yet Judge West claimed there was “no direct evidence” of Yusuf’s participation in the fraud. Her reasoning was that his brother managed day-to-day operations, which she said was insufficient to prove Yusuf aided or abetted the theft.
That logic collapses under the weight of the evidence. Yusuf’s fingerprints are all over the money and all over the scheme. A citizen jury needed only hours to reach the obvious conclusion, yet Judge West chose to protect the fraudster. That decision punishes every Minnesota taxpayer who paid for their spending spree and gives a greenlight to anyone thinking about committing fraud in this state.
This is not over. I am pressing Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office for answers and demanding that Judge West unseal all exhibits from the case so the public can see the evidence for themselves. I will continue fighting for justice in this case and use it as a model for confronting fraud across Minnesota. If Tim Walz refuses to take fraud seriously, I will use every tool available to do so, including holding extreme judges accountable when they impose far-left ideology from the bench.
I spoke with The Epoch Times about this case, and I encourage you to read more about it to understand what is truly at stake for Minnesota taxpayers.
Wright County Commissioner says DOC is attempting to extort the county
One of my first actions as a State Senator was pressuring the Department of Corrections, led by Commissioner Paul Schnell, a Walz appointee, to stop delaying its review of Wright County’s community corrections plan.
Wright County Commissioner Kirby Moynagh has said the DOC is attempting to extort the county during this transition process. I don’t disagree. If the DOC refuses to act, we will force action through legislation.
As of November 10, Wright County officially became a CCA county. All adult probation cases are now referred to Wright County Court Services. This locally administered plan is more cost-effective, improves efficiency, enhances public safety, and leads to better outcomes for probationers.
So far, Commissioner Schnell has not raised any substantive concerns with the county’s plan. He has simply refused to review or approve it. That refusal highlights the incompetence and negligence of the Walz administration when it comes to effective governance. I have sent letters and met directly with Commissioner Schnell to demand action, but like too many bureaucrats, he is clinging to power from his office in St. Paul.
That is why I am authoring legislation to require the Department of Corrections to respond to county requests to transition to a CCA model. The bill is being drafted as you read this and will be the very first bill I introduce when the legislative session gavels in.
Wright County is ready to run a strong, locally controlled CCA program that saves taxpayer dollars and improves public safety.
Capital Investment priorities
On Tuesday, December 2, I joined the City of South Haven to host the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee as they reviewed the city’s request for funding for a critical water infrastructure project.
South Haven’s utility systems are in poor condition and failing. The drinking water distribution system contains significant bacterial slime and mold growth, and there are serious issues with the water tower, sanitary sewer piping, and storm sewer infrastructure.
South Haven’s 185 residents currently pay an average of $117 per month in utility costs. Without assistance, those rates are projected to climb to $211 per month.
Other bonding priorities for District 29 include:
- Wright Technical Center, a cooperative public high school established in 1972 to provide career, technical, and alternative education. WTC is seeking bonding funds to update aging infrastructure and continue preparing students for careers, post-secondary education, and lifelong learning.
- City of Howard Lake, which is requesting bonding funds to improve water infrastructure and ensure safe, clean drinking water for residents.
2026 is a bonding year, and our district needs these investments. Sen. Anderson made these projects a priority, and finishing his work is now my responsibility. These investments will help keep life affordable, improve critical infrastructure, and expand educational opportunities for students across District 29. They are a win for taxpayers, families, and our communities.
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Media Roundup
Coverage you should see:
Fox News – Ingraham Angle appearance on cowardice of Walz, Ellison, Omar
Sen. Michael Holmstrom Says Federal Intervention is Needed in MN Fraud Crisis
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Thanks for reading. I’ll be sending another update next month, and then weekly updates throughout the session. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Michael
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Social Media
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Contact Me
Hearing from constituents helps make me a better legislator. Never hesitate to reach out if you have a question or concern. I can be reached via email at sen.michael.holmstrom@mnsenate.gov or at 651-296-5981.
My legislative assistant, Zachary Queensland, is also a great resource for information. He can be reached at zachary.queensland@mnsenate.gov or at 651-296-0769.