The progressive momentum in Democratic Senate primaries continued Tuesday, with Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeating the more moderate Rep. Angie Craig in a high-stakes contest.
But progressives were dealt a setback in neighboring Wisconsin, with state Rep. Francesca Hong, a self-described democratic socialist and the perceived front-runner in the Democratic primary, losing to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
With more than 95 percent of votes counted, Flanagan was leading Craig, 59 percent to 39 percent, The Associated Press reported. Four other candidates split the remaining votes in the race for the seat of retiring Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sen. Tina Smith.
Flanagan is now set to face Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, who comfortably won a nine-way Republican primary. If elected, Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, would be the first Native American woman to serve in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Minnesota appears poised to elect its first female governor this fall. Amy Klobuchar, the state’s senior senator, easily won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the race to succeed Gov. Tim Walz, who is stepping down after two terms. The Republican primary represented another defeat for President Donald Trump, with his endorsed candidate, former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, losing to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
