Rep. Angie Craig launches Senate run in Minnesota ahead of a competitive Democratic primary
Craig joins Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former state Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen in the race for retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith's seat.
Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat from Minnesota, officially launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a competitive and potentially crowded primary to replace outgoing Sen. Tina Smith. Craig’s entry into the race pits her against notable figures, including Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former state Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen.
In her campaign kickoff video, Craig didn’t hold back in her criticisms, directly calling out former President Donald Trump for "trampling our rights and freedoms for personal gain" and blasting tech mogul Elon Musk as "an out-of-control, unelected billionaire trying to hijack our democracy." She also condemned Republican members of Congress for what she described as spineless behavior.
“It’s time to fight back,” Craig declares in the video. “We have to cut through the noise and take the fight directly to them.”
Craig positions herself as a political outsider-turned-fighter, sharing her personal journey from growing up in a trailer and putting herself through college to defeating an incumbent Republican to earn her place in Congress. She speaks of her family’s resilience, describing how she and her wife fought for their right to raise their four sons while living in Tennessee.
“We’re proud Minnesotans — people who believe in independence, community, and doing what’s right,” Craig says. “That’s why I’m running for the U.S. Senate — to listen, to fight for all of Minnesota, and to win.”
Her candidacy adds further intrigue to the race for Smith’s seat — one of four held by Democrats who have announced their departure at the end of the 2026 term. Though Democrats are seen as having the upper hand in Minnesota, the state has grown more politically competitive in recent years. Republicans haven’t won a Senate race in Minnesota since 2002, but close margins in presidential contests show signs of volatility.
Craig is no stranger to tight races. In 2016, she narrowly lost to Republican Jason Lewis in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, one of the most competitive districts in the country at the time. She came back in 2018 to defeat Lewis and has since held the seat through tough re-elections in 2020 and 2022. Most recently, she secured a commanding double-digit win.
Despite being named the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee for this Congress, Craig has chosen to vacate her House seat to seek higher office — a gamble that opens her seat to Republican challenges as Democrats aim to flip the House.
Craig’s path to the Senate won’t be easy. She faces strong contenders within her own party. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan quickly emerged as a leading candidate following Smith’s retirement announcement. If elected, Flanagan would become the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. Now in her second term as Gov. Tim Walz’s deputy, she gained national attention during her appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Early in her campaign, Flanagan has focused on taking on Trump and his “billionaire cronies.”
Flanagan has already secured key endorsements from prominent Minnesota Democrats, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, former Sen. Al Franken — who resigned in 2017 amid sexual misconduct allegations — and several state legislators from Craig’s own congressional district.
Meanwhile, Melisa López Franzen has leaned into her legislative experience and positioned herself as a pragmatic, electable option in a politically divided state. Speaking with Minnesota Public Radio, López Franzen noted that the state’s purple leanings demand a candidate who can appeal to a broad coalition of voters. Although Republicans haven’t won a Senate race in decades, Trump lost Minnesota by just four percentage points in 2020, and the state House is evenly split between the two parties.
While the eventual Democratic nominee is expected to enter the general election with an edge, the open seat could provide Republicans with a rare opportunity in Minnesota.
Royce White, a former NBA player and the GOP’s 2024 Senate nominee who lost to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, is mounting another bid. White has become known for his provocative online presence and controversial remarks.
Another Republican hopeful is retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze. And speculation continues around former NBC sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, who has become more vocal in her conservative views and public critiques of Minnesota Democrats. Tafoya has not ruled out a Senate run.
National Republican support was minimal for White’s previous campaign, as the party was focused on securing a Senate majority elsewhere. Although some Republicans see the open seat as a chance to compete in Minnesota, it remains uncertain how much attention and investment the race will receive.
Democrats face a tough national map in 2026. They need to flip four seats to reclaim control of the Senate — a challenging feat considering they must defend incumbents in two Trump-won states (Georgia and Michigan) and navigate two open seats, including Minnesota and New Hampshire. With few pick-up opportunities in GOP-held seats, every battleground — including Minnesota — counts.
Before You Click Away!
As Rep. Angie Craig steps into the arena for one of the most consequential Senate races of 2026, she carries with her the stories and struggles of everyday Americans — women, working families, LGBTQ+ parents, and Minnesotans who refuse to be silenced. Her candidacy is more than a campaign — it's a rallying cry for bold, inclusive leadership in a moment that demands it.
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