DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced this morning that she's running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat.

The big picture: Craig's entrance into the race tees up a DFL primary battle featuring some of the biggest names from the party's moderate and left-wing flanks.

State of play: Craig, a moderate Democrat serving her fourth term representing a suburban swing district, is expected to be one of the most prominent — and well-funded — candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Tina Smith in 2026.

• Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the first Democrat to enter the race, has statewide name ID and endorsements from leading progressives such as former U.S. Sen. Al Franken and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
• Former Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen, meanwhile, is running as a fiscal moderate who also fights for education and affordable healthcare.

Royce White, the GOP's 2024 U.S. Senate nominee, and Adam Schwarze have launched campaigns on the Republican side.

• Several other established Republicans, including state Sen. Julia Coleman, are considering bids.

What to expect: The "once in a generation" opportunity to win an open U.S. Senate seat will fuel a "competitive, very bruising" DFL primary battle featuring "A-level talent across the ideological spectrum," Abou Amara, a DFL lawyer and political commentator, told Axios.

The intrigue: While the candidates may differ on some issues, Amara said he expects the contrast between the DFL contenders' "different life experiences" to more significantly shape the campaign.

Follow the money: Craig likely enters the race with a significant cash advantage, thanks to a $1 million war chest in her U.S. House campaign account.

• That's more than double what the other candidates reported raising as of the end of the first quarter.

What we're watching: Craig's move also creates an open race for Minnesota's most competitive U.S. House seat: the south metro's 2nd Congressional District.

• She won the district by 13 points in 2024, but it was decided by much closer margins in previous elections.

What's next: The U.S. Senate candidates will vie for the party's endorsement late next spring, ahead of an August 2026 primary.

The bottom line: While an open seat could make the U.S. Senate race more competitive in the November midterms, Democrats have dominated Minnesota's statewide elections for two decades.

• Cook Political Report rates the race as "lean Democrat."

Go deeper on the candidates

Walmart, Target and Cub Foods remain the top three grocers in the Twin Cities.

Why it matters: Our metro area has always had a nice mix of grocery options, from national chains to local brands ranging from upscale to budget-friendly.

• Despite some newcomers, the landscape hasn't changed much in recent years,

Between the lines: Costco has been one of the fastest-growing brands here, with its market share rising from 10.5% in 2020 to 12.7% in 2024, according to Chain Store Guide.

• Meanwhile, Target has slipped from 18.3% to 17.1% market share.

What we're watching: That trend could continue as backlash over Target's DEI rollback has led to a decline in foot traffic, while Costco's shopper activity has been up for 16 straight weeks, according to Retail Brew.

🎭 Mark your calendars: Tickets to the Broadway musical adaptation of Prince's 1984 "Purple Rain" go on sale at 10am May 9. (Hennepin Arts)

• The show runs Oct. 16-Nov. 16 at the State Theatre.

🚌 A new law extending summer unemployment benefits to bus drivers and other hourly school workers would be rolled back in 2028 under the divided House's education spending deal. (Background via Axios)

• Some House DFLers have blasted the proposed cut, and the policy is expected to remain a friction point in the final weeks of budget talks.

🚒 Andover's fire chief says a mother and her infant survived a house fire thanks to something fire officials advise often: Closing your bedroom doors at night, which keeps smoke and heat out longer. (KARE 11)

🥤 Sota, the "dirty soda" shop that opened in Maple Grove last year, plans to debut a Southdale Center location this June. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal/Background via Axios)

The Wolves tomorrow night have a chance to not only end their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, but stop a long streak of postseason losses to teams from Southern California.

By the numbers: The Wild, Wolves, Twins and Vikings have been eliminated a combined six straight times when playing Los Angeles teams in the last 23 years.

• That includes a brutal stretch from 2002 to 2004, when the Angels, Ducks and Lakers beat the Twins, Wild and Wolves in conference championships.
• The most recent stinger came just three months ago, when the Rams ended a promising Vikings season in a Wild Card game.

Between the lines: The Lynx have been Minnesota's saving grace as they knocked the Sparks out of the WNBA playoffs three times during their 2010s dynasty.

• But the Lynx also lost to L.A. in the 2018 playoffs.

The bottom line: "Beat L.A."

Torey sipped this delicious Mezcal cocktail under the "stars" at an aptly named Twin Cities bar over the weekend.

• Where was she?

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