Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan officially announced she is running for Minnesota's soon-to-open U.S. Senate seat. Last week, Sen. Tina Smith announced she wouldn't be seeking reelection in the 2026 election.

Flanagan has served as the state’s 50th lieutenant governor alongside Gov. Tim Walz since 2019. She helped create the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, a first for the country.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate Thursday, a week after saying she would run following Sen. Tina Smith’s declaration she would not seek reelection next year.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate. Flanagan made the announcement on social media saying she is running to take Minnesota values to D.C. She also says a Native American woman has never won a seat in the U.

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced she is launching a campaign to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is seeking a higher office. After Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith announced that she will not be running for reelection in 2026, Flanagan shared on social media that she intends to throw her proverbial hat in the ring for the U.S. Senate seat.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan officially announced she is launching a campaign to run for U.S. Senate in 2026.