Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said she intends to run for U.S. Senate, about one hour after Sen. Tina Smith announced she will not run for another term in 2026.
Meanwhile, Gov. Tim Walz has not ruled out a Senate run, said a source close to Walz who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Politico also reported that Walz is considering a run.
U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig are also mulling a move to the upper chamber, Axios reported.
If elected, Flanagan would be the country’s first female Native American senator. Flanagan announced her plans to run for Smith’s seat on social media, making her the first person to announce in what could be a crowded field.
“I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for U.S. Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I’ll make a formal announcement later this month,” Flanagan said on X. “In the meantime, I’m talking with community and family and friends. I will have more to say soon.”
Republican congressmen Pete Stauber and Tom Emmer might want to take a shot at the Senate, though Republicans haven’t won a statewide race in 20 years and both would have to give up safe seats.
Republican Royce White, who lost his 2024 bid for Senate to Sen. Amy Klobuchar by almost 16 points, has said he will seek the Republican nomination again.
The open Senate seat could attract a big field of ambitious Democrats who see an opportunity to win without taking on an incumbent. Secretary of State Steve Simon’s profile has risen in recent weeks as he’s been in the middle of the fight for control of the state House. The mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul are in their second terms. Former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips could throw his hat in the ring. U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison, who replaced him, could also be viable.
Politico even mentioned the potential return of former Sen. Al Franken, who resigned amid allegations of inappropriate conduct at the height of the #MeToo era.
Smith announced Thursday morning that she would not seek reelection in 2026 because she wants to spend more time with family.
Flanagan’s Senate announcement comes weeks after tensions between Gov. Tim Walz and herself spilled into the open. Walz and Flanagan’s political partnership goes back to the fall of 2017, when Walz picked her as his running mate.
For years, Flanagan has been at Walz’s side during public announcements, but such appearances have become rare since Walz returned to Minnesota after his failed bid for U.S. vice president.
Flanagan comes from the progressive, activist wing of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and Walz and Flanagan have known each other for two decades. Walz was a student at Camp Wellstone, a training academy for emerging progressive politicians and activists, founded after the death of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. Flanagan was an instructor there.
Walz, who represented the rural 1st District in Congress, picked Flanagan to garner support among Twin Cities progressives. Flanagan grew up in and lives in St. Louis Park.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, was previously executive director of Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota and in 2015 she was elected to the Minnesota House.
Walz has said before the Smith announcement that he would make a decision whether he’ll run for a rare third term as governor after the legislative session.
If Flanagan is the Senate nominee, Walz would have to pick a new running mate if he opts to run for governor again in 2026.
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