Nancy Pelosi is backing Rep. Angie Craig in Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary today, joining other Democratic establishment figures in supporting the moderate candidate against progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Pelosi’s endorsement places her alongside House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in backing Craig, who represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District and has served in the House since 2019.
Craig is competing to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith in a race that has become a proxy fight between the party’s moderate and progressive wings. Flanagan, 46, has secured backing from national progressives including Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Smith herself, who is retiring and endorsing her successor’s rival.
The Minnesota primary mirrors a broader pattern of moderate-versus-progressive contests in 2026. Just six days earlier, in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate Representative Haley Stevens, who had backing from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other establishment Democrats. That race exposed deep divisions within the party over issues like Gaza and support for Israel, tensions that have also surfaced in Minnesota.
Craig and Flanagan have clashed over immigration enforcement and social services fraud. Craig voted for the Trump-backed Laken Riley Act, which expands detention authority for undocumented immigrants, though she has since said she regrets that vote. Flanagan has attacked Craig for the vote and has called for an end to offensive weapons sales to Israel, while Craig has received backing from pro-Israel groups in previous races.
The race also hinges on Craig’s legislative record. She has been consistently ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, a record that appeals to moderate voters in a swing-leaning district. Flanagan, by contrast, has positioned herself as the progressive choice, winning the endorsement of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in May after Craig declined to seek the party’s formal backing.
Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who is not running for reelection, has notably remained neutral in the race. The winner of today’s primary will face Republican Michele Tafoya in the general election. No Republican has won a Senate seat in Minnesota since 2002, giving the Democratic nominee a strong advantage in the general election regardless of which candidate emerges from the primary.
Sources
- ABC News — Pelosi and other endorsers backing Craig; Flanagan’s progressive backing; immigration and Israel issues in the race
- Al Jazeera — Craig’s endorsers including Pelosi, Jeffries, and First Lady Walz
- CNBC — Pelosi’s endorsement of Craig; comparison to Michigan primary; no Republican Senate wins in Minnesota since 2002
- PBS NewsHour — Craig and Flanagan as leading contenders; Pelosi’s backing
- Washington Post — Moderate-versus-progressive framing; endorsements from both sides
- The New York Times — Flanagan’s progressive positioning and Sanders backing
- NBC News — Michigan Democratic Senate primary results; El-Sayed’s narrow victory over Stevens
- The Hill — Bernie Sanders’ prediction of a tight Minnesota primary
