NW Twin Cities

Walter Hudson questions Minnesota's cooperation with DOJ on voter data

Minnesota State Representative Walter Hudson raised concerns about the state's handling of voter data in a series of posts on July 26, 2025. In his tweets, Hudson scrutinized the rationale behind state agencies retaining voter information while resisting federal requests for access.

In his first post at 13:04 UTC, Hudson wrote, "How can the data be private if the state has it? Under what premise is it appropriate for the state to have data, but inappropriate for the DOJ to have it? This makes no sense. There's no benign or innocent explanation for this lack of cooperation."

Later that day at 13:16 UTC, he added, "We have the best election system in the nation. We're so confident of that, and so proud of it, that we're afraid to prove it by cooperating with the DOJ. ... Makes sense. Right?"

In a subsequent tweet posted at 17:43 UTC, Hudson stated, "The premise that Steve Simon can be trusted with your voter data, but the DOJ cannot, is categorically absurd."

Steve Simon serves as Minnesota's Secretary of State and oversees elections within the state. The Department of Justice (DOJ) periodically seeks access to state voter records as part of its efforts to enforce federal voting rights laws and investigate potential irregularities.

Concerns about privacy and security are frequently cited by states when declining or limiting federal access to sensitive voter information. Debates over such requests often involve questions about jurisdiction and trust between different levels of government.