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While it’s not an election year, politicians are still flocking to the Minnesota State Fair to get their fill of new foods, speak with Minnesotans and to scope out popular fair attractions. 

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is one many of the lawmakers at the fair. She is not seeking another term in office, meaning Minnesota will have a wide open U.S. Senate race in 2026.

MPR News senior politics reporter Clay Masters caught up with Sen. Smith to talk about her political career.

The following has been lightly edited for clarity. To hear the full interview, click play on the audio player above.

What do you feel is left to do in your time in the U.S. Senate? 

Well, it’s a really tough time because my party doesn’t have control of the Senate or the House or the presidency. So it feels like it’s hard to honestly accomplish things, but I’m always looking for the narrow path where you can get something done. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, we passed, unanimously, a bill that included rural housing that I’ve been working on bipartisan for like three years. So I’m going to be looking for those opportunities. 

Are there things that you can do to throw sand in the gears of the Republicans in control in Washington, or are there ways that you feel like you can use your voice to affect change? 

My voice is strong because I am in the position of representing the 5.5 million people who are from Minnesota and speaking for them — it’s one of the reasons why it’s so fun to come to the fair, because I talk to a lot of people. I’m going to always look for ways for stopping [Republicans] if I think they’re doing things that are bad for Minnesotans. 

Again, if there are places where maybe we can find some common ground — like on rural housing — then I’ll try to plot that course. I will. 

What they’re doing right now to take away health care from so many people, what they’re doing is adding costs to people’s budgets, families budgets, instead of lowering costs. I’m going to be really loud about how I think that’s wrong. 

There was a lot of talk in the last election having to do with threats to democracy. Is that something you spend much time thinking about? What do you think are some of the greatest threats to democracy as it stands right now? 

Well, let’s just look at what’s going on right now. The President and the Vice President are actively encouraging Texas to do redistricting, which is going to be basically allowing politicians to choose their voters rather than voters to choose their politicians. 

With this redistricting fight, that is a threat to democracy. The way in which the President is claiming national emergencies to move National Guards people out and giving them jobs that they are not trained to do: setting up checkpoints in Washington D.C. to sweep up people, that is a threat to democracy. 

I think it’s important that we keep on highlighting what those threats are, but also talking to Minnesotans and Americans about what's happening in their lives and and the biggest thing that I hear from people is, “my God, my grocery costs are going up, my utility bills are going up,” and I think this administration is making that worse and not better. 

The Democratic National Committee is going to be meeting in Minneapolis next week. What kind of advice do you have for your party on your way out the door and where there really doesn't seem to be a leader for the Democratic Party national. 

We’re in the midst of a big transition. My advice to them is, and I think there are leaders in our party that are taking this advice, we can’t just be against Donald Trump. We have to be clear about what we are for. 

I think too often the Democratic Party has seen and has been a defender of the status quo. Too often it seems like we are defending corporate interests instead of really fighting for the interests of regular people. I think that is a place where we can be so much stronger and so much tougher in holding these big, powerful, rich interests accountable for how they're scooping up everything in this country.

This is the first time that the fair has happened since the death of Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. As you’re walking these fairgrounds, thinking about her, what's going through your mind about security and your safety as an elected official?

Right before I came to talk to you, I went into the [Crop Art Exhibit], and there’s that amazing seed art piece that Rep. Athena Hollins made. I literally am standing there, and I burst into tears seeing her picture. So it’s still really close to the surface, losing [Hortman], and it just comes upon you in odd moments. I think about how much [Hortman] loved the fair. 

I’m one of those people that always feels like I’m safe and everything is going to be good but I also know from the real world, that I have to be a little bit more careful and pay a little bit more attention.

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MPR News host host Clay Masters spoke with Sen. Tina Smith about her remaining time in the U.S. Senate and the political climate in Washington.  

Sen. Tina Smith hits the fairgrounds, reflects on her time in office and advice for her party 

Sen. Tina Smith hits the fairgrounds, reflects on her time in office and offers advice for her party

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