MINNESOTA — Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are competing in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The contest determines the Democratic nominee to succeed Sen. Tina Smith, who is retiring from the chamber. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the general election race as Likely Democratic. Republicans last won a U.S. Senate election in Minnesota in 2002, when Norm Coleman defeated Paul Wellstone.

Craig raised $12.8 million for her campaign through July 22, 2026. Flanagan raised $6.5 million during the same period. As of late July 2026, Craig held $3.6 million in her campaign coffers. Flanagan had $1.1 million on hand at that time.

Flanagan received the endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in late May 2026. Craig did not seek the party endorsement. Both candidates have secured endorsements from eight sitting Democratic senators.

Sen. Smith endorses Flanagan. Craig received an endorsement from Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz.

Gov. Tim Walz has not endorsed a candidate in the Senate primary. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has also not endorsed a candidate. Klobuchar is running to succeed Walz for governor.

Flanagan planned to campaign with Sens. Smith, Christopher S. Murphy, and Chris Van Hollen during the final weekend before the primary.

External groups have spent millions on advertising. North Star Dawn PAC spent about $7 million on TV ads promoting Craig and attacking Flanagan. The group was launched in May 2026 and receives most of its funding from Civic Progress. Civic Progress is not required to publicly identify its donors.

Unite to Win, Minnesotans for Progress, and Center Forward spent a total of almost $6 million to support Craig. The Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association PAC spent nearly $2.5 million on ads related to the primary. The PAC spent an unspecified amount supporting Flanagan and approximately $2 million attacking Craig.

The Forward Movement Foundation donated $1 million to the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association PAC. The foundation does not disclose its donors. It previously donated $4 million to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Top donors to the PAC include Vertex Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and the Lockheed Martin employees PAC. Mark Rubin donated $111,500 to the PAC.

Flanagan states she does not accept corporate PAC money for her campaign. Craig addressed the spending environment in an interview. "I deplore the onslaught of money in political races," Craig said.

She added, "I don’t think, as Democrats, we can tie one hand behind our backs." Concern over the influence of undisclosed money in the race has been noted by critics. Supporters argue competitive spending is necessary to win.

Craig voted for the Laken Riley Act in 2025. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]. Craig stated she regrets her vote for the act. The bill was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 341.

The race occurs against the backdrop of a statewide fraud scandal in the Walz administration early in 2026. Walz did not seek a third term following the scandal. Vice President JD Vance showed the scandal during travels across the country.

Two Minnesota residents were fatally shot by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge earlier in 2026. Flanagan addressed the administration's response in an interview. "The governor has said that the buck stops with him and he took the lead here," Flanagan said.

On the Republican side, Michele Tafoya, Royce White, Adam Schwarze, and Tom Weiler are candidates. Schwarze has the endorsement of the Minnesota Republican Party. Tafoya raised $5.3 million through July 22, 2026, and had $1.3 million on hand in late July.

The Minnesota Senate was established in 1858 and serves as the upper house of the state legislature. Flanagan has served as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota since 2019. The outcome of this primary will determine the Democratic candidate for a seat that has remained in Democratic hands for over two decades.

The significant disparity in fundraising and the volume of external spending underscores the financial intensity of the contest. The involvement of groups with undisclosed donors, such as Civic Progress and the Forward Movement Foundation, places the role of dark money in state-level federal elections under scrutiny. The lack of endorsements from major state figures like Walz and Klobuchar leaves a portion of the electorate without clear guidance from established party leaders.

Why It Matters

This primary determines the Democratic nominee for a Senate seat that has not elected a Republican since 2002, effectively deciding the chamber's next member from Minnesota. The contest features a sharp financial disparity between the candidates and significant spending by outside groups funded by undisclosed donors. The outcome will also shape the field for the open gubernatorial race, as Senator Amy Klobuchar seeks to succeed Governor Tim Walz.