MN-Sen 2026: Smith retiring

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

He's not that unpopular but he was unpopular enough to cost Harris the victory. Flanagan has it

[Zedonathin2020]

Walz is officially OUT.

https://twitter.com/toreyvanoot/status/1894734619452264878

As expected (at least for me).

Peggy for the win!!!

[Dwarven Dragon]

Let's go Craig!

As for Governor, I will await the full field but I do view Walz as having abused his power.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Let's go Craig!

As for Governor, I will await the full field but I do view Walz as having abused his power.

Flanagan is leading Craig

[Dwarven Dragon]

Let's go Craig!

As for Governor, I will await the full field but I do view Walz as having abused his power.

Flanagan is leading Craig

Life would be very boring if I just endorsed whoever led the early polls. Particularly since it's a race I get to vote in...

[ponderosa peen 🌲]

Is there any expectation of Walz being publicly involved in this primary race in any way?

Flanagan isn't all that invisible, she's pretty common at campaign events and got a lot of media attention when Walz was the VP candidate for obvious reasons. It's more than in Minnesota it's a powerless job, the LG really doesn't do anything besides attend state functions with the Governor and wait for the Governor to resign/die. Flanagan has for the above reasons been more visible than most Minnesota LGs but prior they were pretty invisible, Tina Smith probably had a <20% name recognition rate before she was appointed to the Senate, although largely because she had only relatively recently become LG, Dayton's running mate in his first term was some long term State Senator who was also pretty old so she opted to retire after his first term and Dayton just picked his chief of staff in his first term who was Smith to be his running mate. I don't even remember the name of his first LG or for that matter any ones prior to that.

Yes I think we agree - I was saying Flanagan is pretty visible, for a couple of reasons, despite being in a role that typically makes politicians invisible. I'm not tuned into MN media these days so I don't know how much media Craig gets out state (although my limited experience with MPR is that they run more local coverage than any other state's public radio I've tuned in to - I was there for the wall-to-wall coverage of Jacob Wetterling's body being found!)

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Is there any expectation of Walz being publicly involved in this primary race in any way?

Doubtful. It's not his style.

The Twin Cities media market is pretty dominant in the state even in much of outstate so Craig should have decent name recognition there and the whole state has seen her TV ads. I think the biggest weakness for Craig is there's not really a whole lot distinguishing her to be strong outside her district.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Let's go Craig!

As for Governor, I will await the full field but I do view Walz as having abused his power.

Flanagan is leading Craig

Life would be very boring if I just endorsed whoever led the early polls. Particularly since it's a race I get to vote in...

I didn't like Schiff that much I voted for him anyways.


Harris or Newsom may wind up the D nominees for Prez and users may have to vote for them anyways, Walz won't be on the ticket

[Dwarven Dragon]

Let's go Craig!

As for Governor, I will await the full field but I do view Walz as having abused his power.

Flanagan is leading Craig

Life would be very boring if I just endorsed whoever led the early polls. Particularly since it's a race I get to vote in...

I didn't like Schiff that much I voted for him anyways.


Harris or Newsom may wind up the D nominees for Prez and users may have to vote for them anyways, Walz won't be on the ticket

My vote for Harris was a one-and-done event. I have never really found myself politically aligned with her and there's nothing she could really do to make me vote for her again.

[Minnesota Mike]

https://x.com/Politics1com/status/1905645662047269054

 Real estate investor & '24 Hennepin Co Comm nom Marisa Simonetti (R) becomes 5th GOP to enter open US Senate race. During her '24 campaign, she was arrested for assault in a weird domestic incident when she threw a tarantula at her housemate...

[Minnesota Mike]

https://twitter.com/maxpcohen/status/1906733000621973753

I might have missed it but I believe this is the first semi official confirmation that Ellison is not running himself.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

https://twitter.com/maxpcohen/status/1906733000621973753
I might have missed it but I believe this is the first semi official confirmation that Ellison is not running himself.

Although no one who was seriously paying attention expected him to. Like in 2018 he was basically looking for any excuse to get out of Congress.

[Minnesota Mike]

And another former NBA player is considering a run for Senate from MN as a Republican. Willie Burton a former Golden Gopher and 9 year NBA vet is said to be seriously considering a run. While I remember him as a player I have no idea what kind of candidate he would be. Former NBA player and current nutjob Royce White is already exploring the race. One problem for Burton is he is currently registered to vote in Michigan.

https://twitter.com/dabbs346/status/1908256156511809926

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Flanigan will win this seat

[Storr]

And another former NBA player is considering a run for Senate from MN as a Republican. Willie Burton a former Golden Gopher and 9 year NBA vet is said to be seriously considering a run. While I remember him as a player I have no idea what kind of candidate he would be. Former NBA player and current nutjob Royce White is already exploring the race. One problem for Burton is he is currently registered to vote in Michigan.

https://twitter.com/dabbs346/status/1908256156511809926

"If I had a nickel for every time an ex-NBA player seriously considered running for the 2026 Minnesota GOP Senate nomination, I'd have two nickels-- which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice."

[Sir Mohamed]

Omar is OUT.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

https://x.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

[These birds not meant to fly alone]

Omar is OUT.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

https://x.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

Well, yeah, obviously

[Cowboys for Christ]

Let's not fool ourselves: Peggy Flanagan is nothing more than a placeholder who’s spent her entire career in the background. The role of Minnesota Lieutenant Governor is a glorified do-nothing job, and Flanagan has done absolutely nothing to prove she can handle the big leagues. She’s spent more time basking in the warm glow of Governor Walz’s shadow than actually leading or achieving anything substantial. But hey, she’s got name recognition, right? That’s literally it. We’re supposed to pretend that qualifies her for the Senate? Hard pass.

Now, let’s talk about Angie Craig. She represents a competitive seat, which makes her a real politician, not someone who’s coasting on borrowed time. Craig’s actually been in the trenches, getting things done, and fighting back against the big dogs like Trump, Musk and Johnson. No cans-of-corn. She’s the one who’s pushing real policy, not just spewing empty rhetoric from the safety of a powerless office. Peggy Flanagan in the Senate? Please. Craig is the bold, experienced leader Minnesota needs; not another politician who’s spent too many years playing it safe.

This post sponsored by ChatGPT

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Omar is OUT.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315
https://x.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

To the surprise of no one.

[Anti-Penguin Tariff Voter]

Omar is OUT.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315
https://x.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

To the surprise of no one.

Was she ever really in?

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Omar is OUT.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315
https://x.com/axios/status/1910341279285727315

To the surprise of no one.

Was she ever really in?

No

[wbrocks67]

Is there a world where Craig doesn't jump in? I'd expected she'd do so already

[Minnesota Mike]

Is there a world where Craig doesn't jump in? I'd expected she'd do so already

She has said she will decide this month. I would say it's likely but not certain she runs.

[RussFeingoldWasRobbed]

Craig isn't great but she's far better than Stevens that's for sure

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Flanagan is gonna to win the primary