Minnesota’s Democratic and Republican nominees for U.S. Senate squared off in their respective primaries on August 11, with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan winning the Democratic primary and former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya claiming the Republican nomination, setting up a general election matchup on November 3.
Flanagan defeated U.S. Representative Angie Craig with 59% of the vote (411,445 votes) to Craig’s 39.4% (274,582 votes), according to results from the Minnesota Secretary of State. Tafoya won the GOP primary with 52.06% of the vote (211,537 votes), emerging from a field that included other Republican candidates.
The race centers on the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith, who announced in February 2025 that she would not seek reelection. Smith endorsed Flanagan before the primary, signaling her backing of the progressive candidate over Craig, the more moderate Democrat.
Flanagan, 46, has served as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor since 2019 and is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She ran as a progressive champion, with her campaign focusing on opposition to Trump administration policies. Multiple outlets, including PBS NewsHour, described Flanagan’s victory as “another victory for an insurgent progressive” over a more centrist opponent.
Tafoya, a four-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, brings a different profile to the race. She spent decades as an NFL sideline reporter and has positioned herself as a political and cultural commentator. National Republicans backed her candidacy, with support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Flanagan enters the general election as the front-runner. Earlier polling from late July showed both Flanagan and Craig leading Tafoya by approximately 7 points in potential matchups. One forecast model gave Flanagan an 83.7% chance of winning the general election, though the race is still months away.
The primary results reflect broader national trends, with progressive candidates making gains in Democratic contests. Flanagan’s victory margin—nearly 20 percentage points over Craig—underscores the strength of her support among Minnesota Democratic voters and her party’s left wing heading into the November general election.
Sources
- Minnesota Secretary of State / NBC News — primary results and vote totals for both Democratic and Republican races
- PBS NewsHour — Flanagan’s victory as a progressive win and her status as front-runner in the general election
- The Guardian — Flanagan’s background as lieutenant governor and member of White Earth Band of Ojibwe
- Ballotpedia — confirmation of the general election date (November 3, 2026) and candidate information
- Minnesota Public Radio — Senator Tina Smith’s retirement announcement and endorsement of Flanagan
- Star Tribune — Flanagan’s nearly 20-percentage-point lead over Craig in the Democratic primary
- Minnesota Reformer — polling data showing Flanagan and Craig each leading Tafoya by approximately 7 points
