Peggy Flanagan has won the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, defeating Republican nominee Michele Tafoya. She succeeds retiring Senator Tina Smith.
Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya with a pledge to fight the influence of corporations and confront Republican President Donald Trump.
A citizen of the White Earth Nation, Flanagan's victory is a milestone event, making her the first Native American woman elected to the United States Senate and the first Native American senator in Minnesota's history.
Her election also marks a major triumph for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, following a high-stakes campaign where she championed systemic reforms, including Medicare for All and universal childcare, while running on a platform focused on confronting corporate influence.
The general election victory follows a highly competitive primary season, where Flanagan secured the Democratic nomination by defeating moderate U.S. Representative Angie Craig by roughly 20 percentage points.
Supported by prominent national progressives like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Flanagan successfully framed her campaign as a movement of "the many versus the money" to counter heavy outside spending.
With her transition from Lieutenant Governor to the federal stage, Flanagan's legislative agenda in Washington is expected to center heavily on progressive climate initiatives, healthcare expansion, and advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and tribal communities on a national level.
