Peggy Flanagan wins Democratic primary for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat

Catch up fast: The two rivals jumped in the race after DFL U.S. Sen. Tina Smith decided she wouldn't run for reelection.

• Flanagan's progressive fighter pitch helped her secure the DFL Party endorsement and backing of left-wing leaders like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
• Craig, meanwhile, argued that a track record of flipping — and holding — a suburban swing district made her a safer bet for ensuring a Democratic win in November.

Friction point: Fallout over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota jolted the race over the winter, allowing Flanagan to hammer Craig over a 2025 vote to give ICE more power.

• Flanagan's grassroots support surged. Craig eventually expressed regret for the vote, but her standing with the party's liberal flank had already fallen so far that she skipped the DFL endorsing convention altogether.

Follow the money: The campaigns and outside groups poured tens of millions into the race, with Craig's side vastly outspending Flanagan and her allies.

What we're watching: Whether Flanagan's role in the Walz administration's response to fraud in state programs becomes a big issue in her November race against GOP nominee Michele Tafoya.