Key facts
- Peggy Flanagan is the Democratic lieutenant governor of Minnesota.
- Michele Tafoya is the Republican challenger for the Minnesota Senate seat.
- Republicans have not won a statewide race in Minnesota since 2006.
- Flanagan supports a Medicare for All model of universal healthcare.
- Tafoya has stated she supports bans on abortion after 12 or 15 weeks.
The race for an open US Senate seat in Minnesota, a state reliably won by Democrats, has become unexpectedly close. The Cook Political Report recently downgraded the contest from "likely Democrat" to "lean Democrat." Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a Democrat, is facing Republican challenger Michele Tafoya. If elected, Flanagan would be the first Native American woman to serve in the US Senate. Republicans have not won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006. Recent polls show Flanagan ahead, but with a narrow margin. Flanagan's connection to the current administration's social services fraud issues is seen as a liability. Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and political commentator, has positioned herself as a pro-choice Republican, though her specific stance on abortion access remains unclear. She has also broken with some Trump administration policies. Trump recently endorsed Tafoya, but she has not rushed to embrace his support.