Flanagan to Face Tafoya in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate Race After DFL Primary Win
In Minneapolis-St. Paul, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has won the DFL primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. She will face Republican Michele Tafoya, who secured her party's nomination despite not being the endorsed candidate.…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, August 11, 2026 —
In Minneapolis-St. Paul, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith. Flanagan’s victory in the primary sets the stage for a general election contest against Republican candidate Michele Tafoya.
Tafoya, a former sports commentator, clinched the Republican nomination. Reports indicate that Tafoya was not the party’s endorsed candidate but successfully secured her party’s backing through the primary election.
The upcoming race is expected to highlight contrasting approaches to policy. Lieutenant Governor Flanagan has centered her campaign on issues of affordability and strengthening social safety nets. In contrast, Tafoya enters the general election with considerable name recognition and substantial support from national Republican organizations.
Both the DFL and Republican primary contests were characterized as hard-fought campaigns, indicating significant engagement and competition within each party leading up to the general election.
The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Tina Smith will be a key race to watch in the upcoming election cycle.
Story summarized from the original created by Ana Radelat and Claire Carlson on www.minnpost.com, see more information here.
