Angie Craig to forgo DFL endorsement in Minnesota U.S. Senate battle
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Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate Angie Craig will skip this weekend's DFL endorsement convention in her primary battle against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Why it matters: Craig's late withdrawal is a sign that she is still struggling to gain traction with progressive DFL base voters in the wake of Operation Metro Surge.
- She plans to remain in the race for the nomination, which will be decided by a broader pool of voters in August.
What they're saying: "The DFL endorsement process just doesn't reflect the full scope of the party that we are and the purple state that we have become," Craig, a moderate congresswoman from a suburban Twin Cities swing district, told reporters.
- She noted that it will be decided by just 1,200 people who had the time and money to participate in a multi-step process — a small fraction of the typical primary turnout.
The other side: Flanagan spokesperson Lexi Byler said Craig "spent months aggressively competing for this endorsement because she understood how significant it is."
- "DFLers overwhelmingly consolidated behind Peggy Flanagan because they're hungry for a leader who will stand up to corporate power, not bend to Republicans, and fight unapologetically for working people," Byler said in a statement.
The Flanagan campaign said in a memo that the lieutenant governor was on track to win the endorsement on the first ballot with the support of 75% of delegates.
Catch up fast: Widespread backlash against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown turned Craig's past votes on ICE into a flash point in the DFL contest to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.
- Her campaign's efforts to recalibrate — including an op/ed expressing regret for one controversial vote — haven't appeared to move the needle among the delegates who crown the endorsement.
Reality check: While the endorsement carries weight and unlocks resources, DFL primary voters have shown a willingness to break from their party's seal of approval in recent competitive statewide elections.
Case in point: Flanagan herself won without the endorsement in 2018, when she was running alongside Gov. Tim Walz.
What we're watching: Whether Craig and her allies can use their significant fundraising advantage to win over the broader electorate ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
The big picture: The winner of the primary will face the Republican nominee in the November general.
- Navy Seal Adam Schwarze, former NFL broadcaster Michele Tafoya and Royce White are the top candidates competing on the GOP side.
More coverage: Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates