By
Ed Kilgore,
political columnist for Intelligencer since 2015
While it was nearly overshadowed by wild and unpredictable brawls in next-door Michigan and Wisconsin, progressives notched another major primary win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan soundly defeated moderate congresswoman Angie Craig for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring U.S. senator Tina Smith. Flanagan ran virtually even with Craig in her Twin Cities suburban base and crushed her in urban Minneapolis and St. Paul, coasting to a landslide win statewide.
Like most of the other 2026 progressive primary winners, Flanagan had to overcome a financial disadvantage, as Craig had crypto, tech, and AIPAC money in her corner. Flanagan was aided to some extent by contributions from her fellow Democratic lieutenant governors. But what really seemed to fuel her campaign was anger at her opponent’s perceived sympathy for ICE and Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, which became a millstone for Craig in the light of last winter’s lethal battles over deportation raids in Minneapolis. Craig tried to hit back by associating Flanagan with Minnesota’s messy social-services-fraud scandal, but it seemed to matter less to Democratic voters than the desire for maximum anti-Trump fury. National political figures were very active in this primary with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ro Khanna (along with Tina Smith) backing Flanagan and Hakeem Jeffries and Pete Buttigieg (plus Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz) supporting Craig.
