Democrat Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate Race, Becoming First Native Woman in Senate

Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota's U.S. Senate race on Tuesday, defeating Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, according to projections by U.S. media outlets. Flanagan will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, keeping the seat in Democratic hands, and will be the first Native American woman in the Senate. She is Ojibwe and a member of the White Earth Nation. With 72 percent of votes counted, she led 54 percent to 43 percent. Flanagan has served under Gov. Tim Walz since 2018 and earlier spent four years in the state House. Public polls had shown her ahead by only 3 or 4 points, and the Cook Political Report had moved the race to a less safe Democratic rating. Tafoya attacked Flanagan over alleged social services fraud under Walz and over Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement push in which Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot. Tafoya blamed Walz for not coordinating with federal agencies, while Flanagan urged dismantling ICE. Alaska's Mary Peltola could share the historic distinction if she wins her race.

The New Republic and HuffPost, on the left, lead with the history-making win. The New Republic gives the 54–43 count, calls the fraud claims a fabrication meant to punish Democrats and antagonize immigrants, and describes Metro Surge as tearing apart communities. HuffPost focuses on Flanagan's progressive profile and on analysts who thought her margins were weak. The Washington Free Beacon and Daily Wire, on the right, lead with Walz. The Free Beacon calls Flanagan Walz's "wingwoman," says she overcame questions about fraud scandals and cites a 10-point margin. It details the Feeding Our Future case, with at least $250 million stolen, and criticizes Elizabeth Warren's claims of Cherokee heritage. The Daily Wire runs a first-person piece urging voters to back Tafoya, blaming the Walz-Flanagan administration for crime and fraud. Both sides report the win and the fraud and ICE issues, but differ on whether the fraud is real. Reuters and Axios give brief factual results.