U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D) says she is making way for new political faces to represent Minnesota by deciding not to run for re-election in 2026.
Speaking to WCCO's Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar, Smith says that many politicians remain in office to protect their post for their party.
"Minnesota is close and you cannot take anything for granted in our elections here," says Smith. "You have to work really, really hard, but I think if I felt that somehow I was the indispensable person here, and that if I left we would lose the seat? I might have made a different calculation. But I don't feel that way at all."
Smith says she told her staff in Washington early Thursday that she had decided not to run for re-election.
The announcement created a flood of speculation on who would run in the rare open seat election. There hasn't been a fully open Senate race in Minnesota since Republican Norm Coleman defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale after the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone in 2002.
"Part of my thinking about, not leaving, but not running again, is that I want to make space for the next generation of leaders that are more than ready to take up this work and lead us forward," Smith explains. "And I honestly think that voters like to have, like to see new faces."
The next Senate race could be a free-for-all
There are a number of names already circulating for who might want the seat and there has been a flood of speculation about who both parties could explore for the 2026 election.
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan has already said she's "in" with a post on social media coming just minutes after the annoucement from Smith. That led to some wondering whether or not Flanagan got an early heads up.
Smith said she did give her congressional colleagues from Minnesota, and statewide elected Democrats, earlier notice on her decision to retire. But she added that she didn't give anyone specifically a head start despite her well-known closeness to Flanagan.
"I know that Peggy has been thinking about the possibility of running for the Senate for a long time," Smith told WCCO. "She has, you know, told me in the past that it has always been her dream to serve in the United States Senate."
Smith did say that it is not her place to decide who Democrats want to replace her, however.
"One, it is not my job to pick my successor," she said. "That's going to be up to the voters of Minnesota and it's going to be up to these candidates, whomever they end up being, to make the case to Minnesota voters. I think the other thing is that it has been a long time since we have had an open Senate seat in Minnesota, and I think it gives everybody a shot."
That shot comes with optimism from Republicans on breaking a statewide election losing streak that goes all the way back to 2006 when Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty was elected to a second term. Since that point, no Republican in Minnesota has won a statewide race. Minnesota has had two Democratic U.S. Senators since 2008 when Al Franken defeated incumbent Republican Norm Coleman.
There are several names being bandied about already, including former NBC Sports reporter and former WCCO Radio host Michele Tafoya. State Senators Julia Coleman and Karin Housley who lost to Smith in 2018 are rumored to be interested as is state Rep. Kristin Robbins. Royce White, the GOP's 2024 U.S. Senate nominee against Amy Klobuchar, has already said he intended to run before Smith made her announcement. There's also Adam Schwarze, a former congressional candidate and Navy Seal, who announced his intention to run.
“This race is an opportunity to flip this Senate seat, add to the growing Republican majority, and ensure Minnesota families have a voice in Washington that actually represents them,” Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash said in a statement. "But we won't stop there - Republicans are ready to take back the governor's office and every constitutional office for the first time in state history. Minnesotans are ready for change, and we're ready to deliver it."
What could complicate this race on the DFL side is that Lt. Governor Flanagan's partner in St. Paul, Governor Tim Walz, might be eyeing this Senate seat as well.
Political Analyst Blois Olson says as for a prospective run from Governor Tim Walz, it's complicated.
"He's cornered in a little, and the flip side is if he decides to run for U.S. Senate now that Peggy Flanagan has said she's running, it shows that they are not in unison," Olson says. "That they are not aligned, and to some people in the DFL, he may look like maybe a little bullyish trying to challenge his own political teammates."
There have been reports of a rift between Flanagan and Walz over the last several months that may have developed during his ill-fated run as for vice president. Olson says if Walz does jump in the race, he already has an advantage however.
"Senate races are national races," explains Olson. "This race will attract national attention, national money, and he would have the advantage in raising significant national money. It would also raise his national profile, which that is clearly a goal of his team within the Capitol."
Walz was representative of Minnesota's first congressional district for six terms, and last year was the running mate for Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar is also considering a run as is Rep. Angie Craig. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who has won a statewide election, could be looking at a run.