Blab News
Progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Democratic Senate Primary Over Rep. Angie Craig
On August 11, 2026, Minnesota’s progressive lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan clinched the Democratic‑Farmer‑Labor Party nomination for the U.S. Senate seat, defeating Representative Angie Craig by roughly 20 percentage points. The Associated Press and NBC News confirmed the outcome after 99 % of precincts reported.
Flanagan’s triumph was powered by a wave of support across northern Minnesota. In the counties that surround Bemidji and Duluth, she captured more than 60 % of the vote, and her margins in Moorhead and Rochester mirrored that strength. Even the Twin Cities’ heartland—Hennepin and Ramsey counties—leaned heavily toward her. In Duluth, Flanagan carried every precinct, with some margins exceeding 50 points. St. Cloud’s central neighborhoods also favored her, while Craig’s best showing there was confined to the fringe area of Waite Park.
The contest tightened in the south‑metro suburbs and central Minnesota. Craig carried Brainerd and the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, but her lead in Dakota County—the core of her congressional district—was only 50 votes. In the Twin Cities, she performed well in Edina, Plymouth, and Minnetonka, and in parts of Dakota County, yet Flanagan won Rosemount and most of the metro area overall. In Mankato, Flanagan’s margin was slightly weaker than in the north, and Craig’s support was stronger; LeSueur County, east of Mankato, recorded some of Craig’s largest margins in the state.
The primary was widely seen as a litmus test for the progressive wing of Minnesota’s Democratic Party. Flanagan, a progressive who has championed Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, and expanded access to gender‑affirming care for minors, carried the party’s left‑leaning base. Craig, a centrist and the first openly LGBT+ member of Congress from Minnesota, had built a record of moderate policy positions and served as a congresswoman for eight years.
Flanagan’s background as the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Minnesota and her status as a citizen of the White Earth Nation added a historic dimension to her campaign. She has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015, was elected lieutenant governor in 2018, and re‑elected in 2022.
The state’s election officials announced the final results after the last precincts reported. Flanagan’s win, with 59 % of the vote to Craig’s 39.4%, was reported by the Associated Press and corroborated by NBC News. The outcome places Flanagan in the position of facing Republican nominee Michelle Tafoya in the general election.
The primary outcome reflects a broader trend of progressive candidates gaining traction in key battleground states. Analysts note that Flanagan’s strong performance in northern Minnesota—a region that has historically leaned Republican—signals a shift in voter priorities. The tight contests in the south‑metro suburbs and central counties underscore the continued competitiveness of the region.
As the campaign season moves into the general election, both parties will focus on mobilizing their bases and addressing key issues such as immigration enforcement, healthcare, and economic development. Election officials have confirmed that all ballots have been counted and that the primary results are final.
The Democratic primary has concluded, and the next phase of the campaign will begin with the general election scheduled for November 2026. The outcome of that contest will determine whether Flanagan’s progressive agenda will shape Minnesota’s representation in the U.S. Senate.
Flanagan’s triumph was powered by a wave of support across northern Minnesota. In the counties that surround Bemidji and Duluth, she captured more than 60 % of the vote, and her margins in Moorhead and Rochester mirrored that strength. Even the Twin Cities’ heartland—Hennepin and Ramsey counties—leaned heavily toward her. In Duluth, Flanagan carried every precinct, with some margins exceeding 50 points. St. Cloud’s central neighborhoods also favored her, while Craig’s best showing there was confined to the fringe area of Waite Park.
The contest tightened in the south‑metro suburbs and central Minnesota. Craig carried Brainerd and the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, but her lead in Dakota County—the core of her congressional district—was only 50 votes. In the Twin Cities, she performed well in Edina, Plymouth, and Minnetonka, and in parts of Dakota County, yet Flanagan won Rosemount and most of the metro area overall. In Mankato, Flanagan’s margin was slightly weaker than in the north, and Craig’s support was stronger; LeSueur County, east of Mankato, recorded some of Craig’s largest margins in the state.
The primary was widely seen as a litmus test for the progressive wing of Minnesota’s Democratic Party. Flanagan, a progressive who has championed Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, and expanded access to gender‑affirming care for minors, carried the party’s left‑leaning base. Craig, a centrist and the first openly LGBT+ member of Congress from Minnesota, had built a record of moderate policy positions and served as a congresswoman for eight years.
Flanagan’s background as the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Minnesota and her status as a citizen of the White Earth Nation added a historic dimension to her campaign. She has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015, was elected lieutenant governor in 2018, and re‑elected in 2022.
The state’s election officials announced the final results after the last precincts reported. Flanagan’s win, with 59 % of the vote to Craig’s 39.4%, was reported by the Associated Press and corroborated by NBC News. The outcome places Flanagan in the position of facing Republican nominee Michelle Tafoya in the general election.
The primary outcome reflects a broader trend of progressive candidates gaining traction in key battleground states. Analysts note that Flanagan’s strong performance in northern Minnesota—a region that has historically leaned Republican—signals a shift in voter priorities. The tight contests in the south‑metro suburbs and central counties underscore the continued competitiveness of the region.
As the campaign season moves into the general election, both parties will focus on mobilizing their bases and addressing key issues such as immigration enforcement, healthcare, and economic development. Election officials have confirmed that all ballots have been counted and that the primary results are final.
The Democratic primary has concluded, and the next phase of the campaign will begin with the general election scheduled for November 2026. The outcome of that contest will determine whether Flanagan’s progressive agenda will shape Minnesota’s representation in the U.S. Senate.
