Minnesota primaries could mark change of path for Democrats and Republicans

From progressive and moderate to election deniers, state sees wide spectrum of candidates in test of direction for both parties

Minnesota voters on both sides of the aisle are weighing the direction of their parties – and their chances of winning over the general electorate – in marquee statewide races on Tuesday.

On the left, Peggy Flanagan, the state lieutenant governor and a progressive, faces off against Angie Craig, a US representative, for the Democratic bid for US senate in a race punctuated by the role of immigration enforcement in the state that saw two residents killed by immigration agents in a winter surge.

On the right, Mike Lindell, an election denier and pillow salesman, carries Donald Trump’s endorsement in a three-way race for the Republican nomination for governor, where Republicans face an uphill battle to challenge Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic contender and a US senator, now seeking the governor’s office.

After Tuesday, the general election for the open governor and US senate seats will shape up, signaling a change for top roles in the state. Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, initially sought a third term, but dropped his bid after ongoing fraud scandals threatened to distract from the race.

Tina Smith, the Democratic US senator, decided not to run again , saying she wanted to spend time with her grandkids and make way for new faces in the chamber. She has endorsed Flanagan.

The state leans Democratic. It has not elected a Republican statewide since 2006, when Tim Pawlenty won a second term as governor. A Republican presidential candidate has not won the state since 1972. Still, Republicans hope to seize on fraud problems in state programs, including criminal cases against a sprawling group accused of organized theft of meals for children, services for kids with autism and housing programs.

US Senate race

While Republicans have a primary for US senate on Tuesday as well, Michele Tafoya, a former National Football League sideline reporter, is likely to be the GOP nominee. On the Democratic side, polls of the race have been mixed .

Flanagan has attacked Craig for supporting the Laken Riley Act, a federal law that requires immigration detention for undocumented immigrants accused of local crimes, named after a woman murdered in Georgia by an undocumented immigrant. Craig has since expressed regret for her vote, writing in March that it has “become clear that supporting any bill that gives ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] new authority in this administration was the wrong decision”.

Flanagan told the Guardian she appreciated that Craig has said she regrets the vote, but that she thinks Craig owes Minnesotans an apology and that the vote showed “a real lack of judgment”.

“I also think it shows a pretty big disconnect from Minnesotans and the communities here,” Flanagan said. “I think it demonstrates that she doesn’t have a lot of relationships with the people who are most impacted. I think that matters.”

Craig has gone after Flanagan on the fraud issue, saying Flanagan has not taken accountability for any role that allowed fraud to perpetuate.

“State fraud is the No 1 issue as Minnesota voters go to the polls in November,” Craig told the New York Times . “Fairly or not, the lieutenant governor has a unique vulnerability as our statewide Senate candidate because she’s been helping run the state for the last eight years.”

Craig was not available for an interview with the Guardian. The 54-year-old was first elected to congress in 2018, flipping a seat from a Republican to become the first out lesbian to be elected to US Congress from the state. She represents a purple district south of the Twin Cities, which she has pointed to as a sign of electability statewide.

Flanagan, 46, served in the state house of representatives before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019. She is a citizen of the White Earth Nation and began her political career as an organizer, a vocation she says would help her build power for progressives in the Senate if she wins.

“My job, as soon as I get to Washington DC, is to have 99 cups of coffee with people, to build those relationships, to find opportunities for common ground with folks on the other side of the aisle,” she said. “We may find some unexpected places to work together.”

Her platform now includes support for the proposed Medicare for All system of universal healthcare, an issue that she didn’t start off her campaign supporting, but embraced after talking to people across the state who had healthcare horror stories.

“They want folks who aren’t going to govern by sternly worded letter,” Flanagan said. “And I think that people are ready for big, bold change.”

Tafoya, a Republican who is pro-choice, is counting on winning over independent voters. She has centered her campaign on the fraud scandals. Republican delegates at the state convention endorsed Adam Schwarze, a Marine and Navy Seal.

Governor’s race

Lindell, the pillow salesman, is hoping to ride Trump’s endorsement to a victory over Lisa Demuth, the Minnesota House speaker, and Kendall Qualls, a businessman. Qualls won the endorsement of Republican activists at the state party convention earlier this year.

Lindell has faced opposition from the state Republican party, which has questioned his eligibility to hold office in the state, saying it wanted clarity on whether Lindell has lived in Minnesota long enough to qualify. Lindell, who is from Minnesota, has also lived in Texas. He has said he moved back to Minnesota in August 2025, though only registered to vote in the state in July 2026.

Lindell, who has been sued for defamation by voting machine companies and others , has not relented in his claims that the 2020 election was stolen and that Trump had actually won.

He currently faces allegations of a potential campaign finance law violation over handing out free pillows at a parade. An administrative law judge in the state recently said there was “probable cause to believe that the pillows were distributed in order to induce a voter to vote in a particular way at an election”. Lindell called the complaint “complete nonsense”.

He recently stepped down as CEO of MyPillow, saying he needed to focus on his campaign for governor. He also faces millions in creditor claims over unpaid bills from the company.

Alex Plechash, the Minnesota Republican party chair, said Trump’s endorsement of Lindell was a “surprise” and noted that Lindell has “significant electability concerns”.

Klobuchar faces several Democratic contenders in a primary, though is likely to easily win on Tuesday. Klobuchar, who ran for president in 2020, has handily won her US Senate campaigns since she was first elected in 2006.

Congressional races

Multiple congressional districts in Minnesota have contested Democratic primaries on Tuesday as well.

In Craig’s congressional district, the second district south of Minneapolis-St. Paul, three people with experience in the statehouse are running. Matt Little, a former state senator, Kaela Berg, a state representative, and Matt Klein, a state senator, are vying for the seat. Both Little and Berg spent time during Operation Metro Surge patrolling ICE activity.

Outside spending has flooded the race in recent days. While the district is seen as purple, Cook Political Report rated it as a likely Democratic seat this cycle.

In southern Minnesota’s first congressional district, previously represented by Walz, Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher, is hoping he can flip a seat now held by Brad Finstad, a Republican, though he first needs to beat Alex Eaton in the Democratic primary.

In the eighth congressional district in northern Minnesota’s Iron Range, Trina Swanson, a former federal worker, faces Luke Gulbranson, who has been on reality TV show Summer House. The winner will face Pete Stauber, the Republican representative for the area, in a solidly red district.