Peggy Flanagan Defeats Angie Craig In Minnesota Democratic Senate Primary

August 12, 2026 9:05 AM ET Democratic Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Minnesota Senate primary to replace retiring Democrat Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan led Democratic Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig 59% to 39.4% with 99% of the vote reporting as of early Wednesday morning, according to The Associated Press and NBC News. Craig was the primary high-profile moderate and establishment-backed challenger to Flanagan in a race largely framed as a contest between a moderate and a far-left candidate. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Minnesota Fraud Scandal Could Put State’s Open Senate Seat In Play During Midterms, Thune Says)Flanagan, who holds the official DFL endorsement, received support from figures including independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith, and