'Wow!' Klobuchar draws unexpected reaction from crowd at governor's debate in Minnesota

U.S. Senator and Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Amy Klobuchar.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar triggered a round of laughter and gasps this week at a debate against three Republican rivals in front of a gathering of farmers in Redwood County, Minnesota, when she told the crowd she has always been strong on border security.

The remarks came during the governor's forum at Minnesota Farmfest, an event meant to allow the candidates to address concerns surrounding the agriculture industry. But when the topic turned to border security and illegal immigration, things got spicy in a way that Klobuchar wasn't expecting.

Klobuchar's comments came in response to Republican candidate Kendall Qualls telling the crowd he would completely do away with the ideas of sanctuary cities and cease allowing Minnesota to be a sanctuary state, which prompted a round of applause from the audience. "We are a nation of laws or we're not a nation at all," Qualls added. 

"I've long believed and supported funding for order at the border, and I have worked well with law enforcement in Minnesota for years," when the moderator turned to Klobuchar for a response.

At that point the audience erupted in laughter and howls. "Wow!" Klobuchar said as the moderator asked the crowd to quiet down. "I ran the largest prosecutor’s office in the state and was endorsed by police many, many times. So don’t," the senator scolded, pointing her pen at the audience, which was perhaps recalling more recent comments. At a presidential debate in 2019, Klobuchar said she was "happy to" consider a proposal to decriminalize illegal border crossings.

As Mediaite pointed out, Klobuchar once said, "I do believe that we need more resources at the border and that includes a fence. We have people waiting to come in legally, thousands of people waiting to come in legally to this country and we have people coming in illegally – that’s not right. We need to get order at the border.” But that was 20 years ago, and is a notion that modern Democrats scoff at today. 

Klobuchar was debating Qualls and Republicans Lisa Demuth and Mike Lindell.

Below, watch Klobuchar's remark and the audience laughing at her. And watch the full exchange here.