Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota‘s open Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in a closely watched primary and delivering another victory for the Democratic Party’s ascendant progressive wing.
The Associated Press called the race for Flanagan at 11:27 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. With 80% of the expected vote counted, Flanagan led with 59% of the vote to Craig’s 40%.
Flanagan’s victory comes just one week after Abdul el Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, giving progressives another high-profile win as the party debates its direction following President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory. Her win also delivers another setback to establishment Democrats who have argued the party needs candidates with proven appeal to moderate and swing voters to compete in battleground states.
The contest evolved into a broader debate over the Democratic Party’s future. Flanagan embraced the party’s progressive movement and won endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), while Craig, who has represented a competitive House district since 2019, campaigned as a pragmatic Democrat and made electability a central argument for her candidacy. Craig was backed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and other Democratic leaders.
Immigration emerged as one of the campaign’s sharpest dividing lines. Flanagan repeatedly attacked Craig over her vote for the Laken Riley Act, arguing the congresswoman had aligned herself with Trump’s immigration agenda on the bill allowing detention of illegal immigrants charged with burglary, assault on law enforcement, and other crimes.
Craig later said she regretted the vote but defended it as reflective of the realities of representing a competitive district. Both candidates called for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, though Flanagan advocated dismantling and rebuilding the agency while Craig proposed congressional reforms and stricter accountability measures.
Israel and the influence of pro-Israel groups also became a late flash point in the race. Flanagan, who has criticized Israel and attacked Craig over support her previous campaigns received from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, faced scrutiny after Jewish Insider reported she had submitted an Israel position paper to AIPAC. Craig seized on the disclosure to accuse Flanagan of “deception,” but the controversy was ultimately not enough to derail Flanagan’s progressive campaign.
Flanagan prevailed despite entering Election Day at a significant financial disadvantage. Craig had raised $12.7 million and reported $3.6 million cash on hand through July 22, compared with Flanagan’s $6.6 million raised and $1.1 million in the bank. Flanagan sought to turn Craig’s fundraising advantage against her, arguing the congresswoman was too closely aligned with the party establishment and special interests.
ANGIE CRAIG PANS PEGGY FLANAGAN FOR ‘DECEPTION’ AFTER AIPAC POSITION PAPER REVEALED
The result also defied the slight advantage Craig held in the final public polling. SurveyUSA polls conducted for Minnesota media outlets showed Craig leading by 5 percentage points in June, the race tied in mid-July, and Craig ahead by 2 points in the final survey before Election Day.
Flanagan now advances to the November general election in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), in which she is set to face Republican Michele Tafoya. Her victory is likely to intensify the debate over whether the progressive coalition delivering primary victories around the country can translate those successes into general election wins in competitive states.