Democrats around the country are dealing with messy primaries in important Senate races, including those in Texas, Michigan, and Maine. But Minnesota’s open Senate seat stands out for a different reason — and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is right at the center of it.
Flanagan is running as the bold, progressive option in the Democratic primary to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith. Her main opponent, Representative Angie Craig, is a more centrist Democrat known for winning competitive House races. Craig has support from key national figures, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Despite this, Flanagan has gathered endorsements from seven sitting U.S. senators, showing an unusually public split within the Democratic Party over the kind of leader they want representing Minnesota. While this primary won’t decide control of the Senate — Republicans so far show little interest in competing for the seat — it has become important for defining the party’s direction.
Flanagan, speaking during a visit to Washington, said the seat is safely Democratic and therefore gives voters a chance to choose “a progressive fighter” rather than a candidate tied to what she calls “institutional, corporate Democrats.” She argues that the party needs leaders willing to be blunt, energetic, and unafraid to challenge systems that hold back everyday people.
The race has already gotten tense. Flanagan criticized Craig’s vote for the Laken Riley immigration legislation earlier this year, implying that Craig is too cautious and too willing to compromise. She said voters are tired of politicians who “nibble around the edge” instead of taking bold action. Craig’s campaign pushed back, with spokesperson Antoine Givens saying Minnesotans want someone “who shows up, is honest, and stands up to special interests,” adding that Flanagan has not met those expectations. Flanagan’s team responded by highlighting her refusal to accept money from corporate PACs and emphasizing her active campaign schedule across the state.
The contest also reflects national debates among Democrats, including disagreements over the Senate filibuster. Some Democrats argue that the filibuster must be eliminated to stop former President Donald Trump’s agenda and to make it possible to pass major legislation. Flanagan takes a more cautious stance, saying the filibuster should remain for now but that Democrats must “use every tool possible” to block harmful actions. She urged the party to focus on winning bigger majorities so they can pass the policies voters expect.
Questions about leadership within the Democratic Party are also part of the conversation. Flanagan said voters are looking for leaders who fight for them and challenge the status quo, though she avoided calling for specific people to step down. Asked directly about Chuck Schumer, she joked that he is “not that into” her and that she feels the same way, describing their relationship as neutral rather than hostile.
Health care has also become a flashpoint. Many Democrats were frustrated that the party did not secure a health care deal during the government funding negotiations earlier this year. Flanagan said Democrats gave up too early and missed an opportunity to show voters they were truly willing to fight. She believes that backing down weakened public trust and made her own campaign more challenging, because she now has to reassure voters that Democrats will stand firm next time. She said that if Congress fails to extend key Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire, Democrats must be willing to “throw down” and push harder instead of walking away.
Though the Minnesota seat is expected to remain blue, the primary has become a meaningful test of the party’s identity. It pits two very different styles of Democratic leadership against each other — one centrist and pragmatic, the other progressive and confrontational — and the outcome could signal how Democrats want to define themselves in the years ahead.
