Voters will choose between two high-profile DFL candidates running contentious campaigns and a slate of Republicans for Minnesota’s next U.S. senator.
In the Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are vying to replace Sen. Tina Smith, who is retiring.
Craig has outraised Flanagan by more than $1 million in the latest campaign period. Craig is boasting her Congressional experience while Flanagan is running as more progressive on many issues.
Both have fought each other on the campaign trail, creating a closely-watched primary where polls have them virtually tied.
Flanagan carries the DFL endorsement and support from national progressive figures like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.Flanagan is more progressive on issues including universal childcare, Medicare for all and “dismantling” the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
Craig is highly critical of ICE and Operation Metro Surge, but has come under scrutiny from progressives for her support of the Laken Riley Act in 2025, which requires federal immigration agents to detain undocumented immigrants for local offenses. Craig has since said she regrets supporting the act.
George Kalberer, Peter Murgic and Billy Nord are also running for the DFL nomination tonight.
Craig’s decision to run for Senate created a competitive race in the DFL primary for her former seat in the U.S. House of Representative’s 2nd Congressional District, which represents the Twin Cities south metro.
See the results of the U.S. House of Representatives primary here.
In the Republican primary for the Senate seat, former National Football League sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is competing against former National Basketball Association player Royce White and Republican Party-endorsed newcomer Adam Schwarze.
Although Schwarze received the party endorsement, he polled a distant third place in a recent KSTP-TV/Survey USA poll of Republican primary voters. Tafoya led the way in that poll at 41 percent, and she also leads well above the pack in fundraising, taking in $2.62 million in the most recent quarter.
Tafoya is more moderate than Schwarze or White. For example, she supports abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and opposes bans on In Vitro Fertilization.
Bob “Again” Carney Jr., Cynthia Gail, Ahmad R. Hassan, Joyce Lacey, Patrick Munro and Tom Weiler are also on the Republican ballot.
While U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is running in the DFL primary for Minnesota governor, she has not resigned from her congressional seat, so there is no primary election to replace her. If she were to resign from the Senate at a later date, Gov. Tim Walz can appoint a temporary substitute until a special election can be held.
Polling places close at 8 p.m. Election results will be automatically updated approximately every 10 minutes throughout the evening.
