Bernie Sanders brought his progressive endorsement strategy to Minneapolis on Monday, headlining a rally at First Avenue for Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan’s U.S. Senate campaign as she seeks to overcome a spending disadvantage in the Democratic primary.
Around 1,000 supporters packed the iconic music venue to hear Sanders deliver what MPR News described as a “full-throated endorsement” of Flanagan’s bid for the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith. Sanders, a Vermont independent revered among progressive Democrats, focused his remarks on economic inequality and tax policy.
“What Peggy knows, what I know, these guys are finally going to start paying their fair share of taxes. We’re not going to let billionaires get richer and avoid taxes while people sleep out on the street and kids go hungry,” Sanders said. “That is going to change.”
The rally on July 20 also featured U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison—a show of force for Flanagan as she navigates a contentious primary battle with U.S. Representative Angie Craig. The two candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination ahead of the August 11 primary.
Flanagan has centered her campaign on what she calls “the money versus the many,” arguing that corporate-backed outside groups are working to block her path to the general election. Outside spending in the race has heavily favored Craig’s allies, with millions of dollars flooding Twin Cities airwaves. Flanagan has used that disparity as a rallying cry, framing the race as a choice between a candidate backed by grassroots support and one backed by wealthy interests.
Sanders’ endorsement reflects a broader strategy to shape the Democratic Party’s Senate caucus. According to reporting from November 2025, Sanders has endorsed three Democratic Senate candidates for 2026: Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Graham Platner in Maine, and Flanagan in Minnesota. The Vermont senator has said he is working to get his preferred candidates on the November ballot to push the Democratic caucus in the Senate to the left.
Flanagan won the DFL Party endorsement in May 2026 after delegates gathered in Rochester. Despite that backing, she has faced significant outside spending against her and has trailed in some recent polling. The primary is set for August 11, with three weeks remaining for candidates to mobilize voters before the vote.
Sources
- MPR News — reporting on the July 20, 2026 rally at First Avenue, attendance figures, Sanders’ quote, and presence of Smith, Omar, and Ellison
- Minnesota Reformer — coverage of the rally and the contentious primary race between Flanagan and Craig
- NOTUS — reporting on Sanders’ 2026 endorsement strategy across Michigan, Maine, and Minnesota
- The New York Times — November 2025 reporting on Sanders’ endorsement of Flanagan
