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Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) Tuesday in the Minnesota Democratic Senate primary – the latest test of whether the electorate is moving further to the left or toward the center ahead of the critical midterm elections.
Flanagan had 58.8% of the Democratic primary vote compared to Craig’s 39.7% when the Associated Press called the race at 11:27 pm. ET.
Flanagan, who has served as embattled Gov. Tim Walz’s No. 2 since 2019, campaigned on many of the same progressive priorities that propelled Abdul El-Sayed to victory in his Senate primary in Michigan, including “Medicare for all,” ending US aid to Israel over the “genocide” in Gaza and getting “Big Money out of our politics.”
She has also vowed to “rip ICE apart” in response to President Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which resulted in the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement officers, sparking outrage in the state.
The lieutenant governor, who famously donned a hijab last year to express solidarity with Somalis amid federal and congressional investigations into widespread fraud by the refugee community, counted endorsements from socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren, “Squad” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and outgoing Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.).
Meanwhile, Craig (D-Minn.) was viewed as the more pragmatic and centrist candidate in the race to replace Smith.
The three-term congresswoman’s district – Minnesota’s 2nd – went for President Trump in the 2016 election before swinging back in favor of Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
Craig was endorsed by numerous establishment Dems, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and former Transportation Secretary and potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.
She was also backed by Walz’s wife, Gwen.
The governor did not endorse a candidate in the race.
In contrast to Flanagan, Craig has rejected calling the Israel military’s efforts to root out Hamas terrorists in Gaza a “genocide.” She also voted against a measure seeking to cut more than $3 billion in US aid to Israel.
On healthcare, Craig has proposed “Medicare for All who want it,” rejecting a complete federal takeover of the health insurance system.
The congresswoman was attacked by Flanagan on the campaign trail over her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, a Trump-backed bill cracking down on migrant criminals, which Craig has indicated she regrets voting for.
Meanwhile, Craig blamed Flanagan for a lack of oversight and accountability of state welfare programs that were pilfered by fraudsters.
Flanagan will face former sportscaster Michele Tafoya in the November general election.
A Republican hasn’t won a Senate election in Minnesota since 2002.
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