Flanagan and Tafoya to Face Off in November for Minnesota Senate Seat

Flanagan’s victory adds to the bellwether victory by progressive Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Michigan last week.

(Left) Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, speaks during a primary election night party at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Aug. 11, 2026. (Right) Michele Tafoya, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, arrives to vote in Minneapolis on Aug. 11, 2026. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images; Ellen Schmidt/AP Photo

ROCHESTER, Minn.—Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will face Republican Michele Tafoya in the battle for the Minnesota seat in the U.S. Senate, after defeating U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) in the Democratic primary on Aug. 11.

The Associated Press called the race at 10:27 p.m. Flanagan won with 58.9 percent of the vote to Craig’s 39.5 percent, with 95 percent of the vote counted.

Flanagan appealed to the party’s progressive wing, while four-term congresswoman Craig positioned herself as the more moderate candidate in the race.

Flanagan’s victory adds to the bellwether victory by progressive Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Michigan last week, where he defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in a similar ideological matchup.

Flanagan received the endorsement of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party as well as progressives, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Craig was endorsed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and former Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who ran for president in 2024.

Immigration policy became one of the major dividing lines in the primary.

Flanagan campaigned on dismantling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ending President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy targeting illegal immigrants.

Flanagan had repeatedly criticized Craig for supporting the Laken Riley Act, which expanded federal detention requirements for illegal immigrants accused of crimes.

Craig campaigned on ending corruption in Washington. She expressed support for end gerrymandering and impose term limits on Congress.

The United States’ support of Israel was another issue that separated the candidates. Craig voted to continue including Israel in the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which outlines Foreign Military Financing grants, when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ken.) proposed an amendment to stop Israel accessing the funds. Craig did criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as having “reckless policies.” But she said the longstanding relationship with Israel was critical for maintaining peace in the Middle East.

Flanagan has voted to halt the sale of offensive weapons to Israel.

Democratic Senate candidate, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (C), poses for a photo with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh (R) during a get out the vote event at Cedar Field Park in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 8, 2026. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Voter Sentiment

Polling going into primary day suggested a toss-up. A SurveyUSA poll conducted Aug. 3–6 showed Craig with 42 percent support and Flanagan with 40 percent, a 2-point difference within the poll’s margin of error.

One issue on the minds of Flanagan voters who spoke with The Epoch Times on Tuesday was reporting by the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association super PAC that Craig’s campaign had benefitted from large donations from “dark money groups, backed by the cryptocurrency industry and a data center billionaire.”

The super PAC, which backed Flanagan’s campaign, did not identify the billionaire in their report and The Epoch Times could not independently verify the claims.

Federal Election Commission records show North Star Dawn super PAC as the biggest supporter of Craig, having spent millions on advertising supporting Craig or opposing Peggy Flanagan.

The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association super PAC spent $2 million in an ad campaign in May attacking Craig.

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), speaks with supporters during a canvass launch while campaigning in St. Louis Park, Minn., on Aug. 9, 2026. Tom Baker/Getty Images

Kathryn Lange of Rochester voted for Flanagan on primary day because of the donations.

“I don’t agree with the big political donations Angie Craig has been getting,” Lange told The Epoch Times. She also referenced the campaign contributions, saying they would likely allow her to beat Flanagan.

She said the problem with the donations is that they may come with strings attached.

No supporters of Craig agreed to go on record when approached by The Epoch Times.

For the campaign, Craig raised $12.7 million while Flanagan raised $6.5 million.

Republican Nominee

Tafoya, a former longtime NFL sideline reporter, won the Republican nomination after entering primary day as the clear frontrunner in a crowded field.

Her Republican opponents included former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, former NBA player Royce White, and retired Navy officer Tom Weiler.

Tafoya is campaigning on deporting any immigrants convicted of fraud and striping federal funding from any state that refuses to implement anti-fraud controls. Tafoya said she wants to keep men out of women’s sports.

Diane Rivers of Rochester voted for Tafoya after being impressed with her appearances on Greg Gutfeld’s show on Fox News.

“She is serious,” Rivers told The Epoch Times. “She is positive. She says it the way it is.”

The Senate seat became open after Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement in 2025.