The 2026 United States Senate election in Minnesota will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Minnesota, concurrently with other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and other state and local elections. Primary elections will be held on August 11, 2026. Incumbent Democratic Senator Tina Smith is not seeking election to a second full term. Smith was elected to her first full term with 48.74% of the vote in 2020 after winning a special election in 2018 to complete the term of former Senator Al Franken, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
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This will be the first U.S. Senate election in Minnesota without an incumbent since 2006.
Background
Minnesota is considered a blue state at the federal and state levels. Kamala Harris won it by four percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, and the last time a Republican won a statewide race was in 2006. The most recent Senate election, in 2024, saw DFL incumbent Amy Klobuchar defeat Republican Royce White by nearly 16 points. The most recent election for this seat, held in 2020, saw Smith defeat Republican nominee Jason Lewis by five points.
Democrats have had considerably more success in the state in recent years.[citation needed] They control all statewide offices, both U.S. Senate seats, and the minimum majority in the Minnesota Senate, while the Minnesota House of Representatives and the U.S. House delegation are both evenly split.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
Campaign
The Democratic primary election between the progressive Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and moderate Representative Angie Craig is widely seen as a part of the national struggle between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic party over its future, with endorsements split by ideology, following the 2024 U.S. elections.
Craig is reportedly receiving the private backing of the Democratic Senate leadership, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). However, they have yet to publicly take sides in the Democratic primary.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman had reportedly been considering running for the seat prior to her assassination in June 2025.
Candidates
Declared
- Angie Craig, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (2019–present)
- Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota (2019–present) and former state representative from district 46A (2015–2019)
- Billy Nord, streaming company manager
Withdrawn
- Melisa López Franzen, former minority leader of the Minnesota Senate (2021–2023) from the 49th district (2013–2023)
Declined
- Melvin Carter, mayor of Saint Paul (2017–present) (endorsed Flanagan)
- Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General (2019–present) and former U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–2019) (running for reelection, endorsed Flanagan)
- Al Franken, former U.S. senator (2009–2018) (endorsed Flanagan)
- Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis (2018–present)
- Andrew Luger, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota (2014–2017, 2022–2025)
- Ilhan Omar, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2019–present) (running for reelection)
- Kelly Morrison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (2025–present) (running for reelection)
- Dean Phillips, former U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for president in 2024 (endorsed Craig)
- Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State (2015–present) (running for reelection)
- Tina Smith, incumbent U.S. senator (2018–present)
- Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present), Democratic nominee for U.S. vice president in 2024, and former U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–2019) (running for reelection)
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation (2021–2025)
- U.S. senators
- Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (2013–present)
- Ruben Gallego, Arizona (2025–present)
- Andy Kim, New Jersey (2024–present)
- Jacky Rosen, Nevada (2019–present)
- U.S. representatives
- Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (2023–present) from NY-08 (2013–present)
- Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House (2007–2011, 2019–2023) from CA-11 (1987–present)
- Sarah McBride, DE-AL (2025–present)
- Collin Peterson, former MN-07 (1991–2021)
- Dean Phillips, former MN-03 (2019–2025)
- Mark Takano, CA-39 (2013–present)
- Ritchie Torres, NY-15 (2021–present)
- Labor unions
- American Federation of Government Employees
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 9
- Teamsters Joint Council 32
- Minnesota AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Council
- IUPAT District Council 82
- Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters
- Organizations
- Human Rights Campaign
- Elect Democratic Women
- AIPAC
- Democratic Majority for Israel
- Equality PAC
- Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs
- LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
- LPAC
- Executive branch officials
- Deb Haaland, former Secretary of the Interior (2021–2025)
- U.S. senators
- Al Franken, former Minnesota (2009–2018)
- Martin Heinrich, New Mexico (2013–present)
- Ed Markey, Massachusetts (2013–present)
- Jeff Merkley, Oregon (2009–present)
- Chris Murphy, Connecticut (2013–present)
- Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent)
- Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts (2013–present)
- Chris Van Hollen, Maryland (2017–present)
- Statewide officials
- Julie Blaha, state auditor of Minnesota (2019–present)
- Keith Ellison, attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present)
- State legislators
- Liz Boldon, SD-25 (2023–present)
- Erin Maye Quade, SD-56 (2023–present)
- Lindsey Port, SD-55 (2021–present)
- Mary Frances Clardy, HD-53A (2023–present)
- Nathan Coulter, HD-51B (2023–present)
- Brion Curran, HD-36B (2023–present)
- Leigh Finke, HD-66A (2023-present)
- Cedrick Frazier, HD-43A (2021–present)
- Emma Greenman, HD-63B (2021–present)
- Jessica Hanson, HD-55A (2021–present)
- Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, HD-47B (2023–present)
- Athena Hollins, HD-66B (2021–present)
- Heather Keeler, HD-4A (2021–present)
- Larry Kraft, HD-46A (2023–present)
- Jamie Long, HD-61B (2019–present)
- Kristi Pursell, HD-58A (2023–present)
- Local officials
- Melvin Carter, mayor of Saint Paul (2018–present)
- Labor unions
- Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663
- Organizations
- Patriotic Millionaires
- Vote Mama
- U.S. senators
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota (2007–present)
- Tina Smith, Minnesota (2018–present)
- U.S. representatives
- Kelly Morrison, MN-03 (2025–present)
- Statewide officials
- Steve Simon, secretary of state of Minnesota (2015–present)
- Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present)
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
| Campaign finance reports for Q3, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Angie Craig (DFL) | $4,688,414 | $1,735,015 | $2,953,399 |
| Peggy Flanagan (DFL) | $2,283,671 | $1,447,978 | $835,693 |
| Melisa López Franzen (DFL) | $299,376 | $299,376 | $0 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Angie Craig | Peggy Flanagan | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | February 14–15, 2025 | 668 (LV) | – | 22% | 52% | 27% |
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- David Hann, former Republican Party of Minnesota chairman (2021–2024) and minority leader of the Minnesota Senate (2013–2017)
- Adam Schwarze, former Navy SEAL
- Tom Weiler, retired U.S. Navy officer and nominee for MN-03 in 2022
- Royce White, former NBA player and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024
Filed paperwork
- Alycia Gruenhagen, food co-op manager, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024, and Democratic candidate for Minnesota's 7th congressional district in 2020 and 2022
- Ray Petersen, truck driver and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
- Mike Ruoho, business owner
Publicly expressed interest
- Michele Tafoya, reporter and sports broadcaster (decision expected in early 2026)
Potential
- Jim Nash, state representative from district 48A (2015–present)
- Kathleen Fowke, real estate agent, wife of Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke, and nominee for Minnesota's 45th Senate district in 2022 and 2024
Declined
- Willie Burton, former NBA player
- Julia Coleman, state senator from the 48th district (2021–present) and daughter-in-law of former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman
- Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2025–present) from district 13A (2019–present) (running for governor)
- Zach Duckworth, state senator from the 57th district (2021–present)
- Tom Emmer, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2015–present) and nominee for governor in 2010
- Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, advisor to president Donald Trump, and candidate for RNC chair in 2023 (endorsed White)
- Chris Madel, attorney who represented Ryan Londregan
- Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota (2003–2011) and candidate for president in 2012
- Pete Stauber, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present)
- Ryan Wilson, attorney and nominee for state auditor in 2022 (running for lieutenant governor in 2026)
Endorsements
- Individuals
- Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow
- U.S. senators
- Tim Sheehy, Montana (2025–present)
- U.S. representatives
- John McGuire, VA-05 (2025–present)
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports for Q3, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Ray Petersen (R) | $104 | $104 | $0 |
| Adam Schwarze (R) | $480,698 | $312,783 | $167,915 |
| Tom Weiler (R) | $52,778 | $242 | $54,297 |
| Royce White (R) | $393,143 | $426,798 | $105,170 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||
Independents
Declared
- Marisa Simonetti, business owner
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections | Likely D | August 12, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely D | October 14, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | October 23, 2025 |
| Race To The WH | Lean D | September 4, 2025 |
Polling
Angie Craig vs. Generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Angie Craig (DFL) | Generic Republican | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | September 15–16, 2025 | 1,015 (V) | — | 47% | 43% | 10% |
Peggy Flanagan vs. Generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Peggy Flanagan (DFL) | Generic Republican | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | September 15–16, 2025 | 1,015 (V) | — | 46% | 44% | 10% |
See also
- 2026 Minnesota elections
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