Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate Race, Becomes First Native American Woman in U.S. Senate
Peggy Flanagan defeats Michele Tafoya to retain Minnesota's Senate seat for Democrats, marking a historic first for Native American women in Congress.
POLICY WIRE — St. Paul, Minnesota — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has secured her victory in the competitive 2026 U.S. Senate race, ensuring the Democratic Party retains control of Minnesota’s congressional seat.
According to projections from NBC News and CBS News, Flanagan defeated Republican challenger Michele Tafoya to keep the seat solidly in Democratic hands.
This win marks a historic milestone, as Flanagan becomes the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, a distinction she might share with Alaska’s Mary Peltola should she also carry her race.
The two-term lieutenant governor campaigned on a progressive economic agenda, promising to dismantle immigration enforcement structures during the campaign trail.
Flanagan will succeed Senator Tina Smith, who is set to retire at the conclusion of her current term, effectively handing the torch to a new generation of leadership.
Her opponent, Michele Tafoya, was known for her work as a former NFL sideline reporter and host of a conservative podcast before entering the political arena.
Before ascending to the lieutenant governorship, Flanagan represented Minnesota in the state House of Representatives, serving from 2015 to 2019.
The outcome solidifies the Democratic presence in Minnesota’s Senate delegation following a closely watched midterm contest.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
