Simon's statement, DFL legislators response to Bondi
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From the MNOSS
Statement from Secretary Simon
January 25, 2026
SAINT PAUL – On January 24, 2026, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz with three requests that she writes would "restore the rule of law, support ICE officers, and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota.” The third request in the letter was to allow the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to access Minnesota’s “voter rolls.”
The letter was sent on the same day a second Minnesotan was shot and killed by federal immigration enforcement agents - and the day after tens of thousands of Minnesotans peacefully marched in sub-zero temperatures for an end to the federal occupation.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has issued the following statement in response.
“The answer to Attorney General Bondi’s request is no. Her letter is an outrageous attempt to coerce Minnesota into giving the federal government private data on millions of U.S. Citizens in violation of state and federal law. This comes after repeated and failed attempts by the DOJ to pressure my office into providing the same data.
Minnesota’s elections are fair, accurate, honest, and secure. Every step of the way they are organized by local officials – Minnesotans who do honest, hard work to ensure their neighbors, friends, and family have access to a secure ballot.
Our office has already provided the Department of Justice a detailed explanation of how we successfully manage and secure our voter registration files. Yet, without alleging any wrongdoing by Minnesota, the DOJ continues to demand that we disclose private data such as social security and drivers’ license information. We have repeatedly offered to disclose to the DOJ voter data that is already public, without the need to reveal private data protected by state and federal law. The DOJ has declined those offers.
Attorney General Bondi knows full well that the Governor has no formal role in managing our elections or maintaining our voter registration system. She is also well aware that this specific request is the subject of active litigation with our office.
Our position on the federal government’s request to access Minnesota voting records starts and ends with the law. The law does not give the federal government the authority to obtain this private data. Minnesota is not alone in declining to disclose sensitive personal data on voters. So far, thirty-one other states have said no. DOJ is in active litigation with twenty-four of those states– and the courts have swiftly dismissed DOJ’s claims in three of them.
In Minnesota, we will continue to follow the letter of the law, which requires us to protect the private data of our voters.
It is deeply disturbing that the U.S. Attorney General would make this unlawful request a part of an apparent ransom to pay for our state’s peace and security.
More broadly, the federal government must end the unprecedented and deadly occupation of our state immediately.
The tactics used by too many ICE agents have been dangerous, destabilizing, unnecessarily cruel, and counterproductive. They are tactics that often seem aimed at instilling fear more than protecting the public.
Finally, I have been heartened by Minnesotans’ resolve thus far to remain peaceful and law-abiding. I want to echo the calls by public officials of all kinds to de-escalate, even when the federal government appears to want escalation. We should continue to meet darkness and division with light and compassion.”
The MN DFL House of Representatives echoed...
RELEASE: House DFL Elections Leaders Statement on Bondi Demand for Voter Rolls
Monday, January 26, 2026
NEWS RELEASE
House DFL Elections Committee
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 43B – 651-296-4176 – rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn.gov
5th Floor, Centennial Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marlee Schlegel
651-296-9873 or marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov
January 26, 2026
House DFL Elections Leaders Statement on Bondi Demand for Voter Rolls
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - On Saturday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Walz requesting access to Minnesota’s “voter rolls” in exchange for ending ICE’s occupation of Minnesota. Minnesota Secretary of State responded Sunday with an unequivocal “no.”
DFL Chair of the House Elections Committee Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL – Golden Valley) and DFL Vice-Chair Rep. Liz Lee (DFL – Saint Paul) released the following statement in support of Secretary Simon’s defense of Minnesotans’ private data.
“We stand firmly with Secretary of State Steve Simon in his refusal to comply with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's unlawful demand for access to Minnesota's voter registration data. It is unconscionable that the Attorney General would tie this illegal request to the federal occupation in our state, effectively holding Minnesota's security hostage to force compliance with an unlawful demand.
“This is just another example of the true reason for the federal occupation in Minnesota — and it was never about immigration enforcement. This is about fear, control, and settling political scores from an authoritarian regime. No, you don’t get to have our personal data, and it’s insulting to Minnesotans and our constitutional rights that you would even ask.”
Member discussion