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After a late night endorsing candidates for governor, attorney general and secretary of state, Democrats have gathered for day two of their convention in Rochester Saturday, and are expected to endorse Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate later in the day.

Second Congressional District Rep. Angie Craig decided earlier this week to skip the convention, setting up a primary battle with Flanagan in August. 

They’re both vying to replace Sen. Tina Smith, who has held her seat since 2018 when she was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to replace fellow DFLer Al Franken, who resigned from office. 

Smith announced last year that she was retiring, setting up a fierce battle between Democrats for the open seat. 

Smith gave opening remarks on day two of the convention. She encouraged delegates to unify around an endorsement.  

“Your endorsement matters,” she said. “I truly believe we will have a Democratic Majority in the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate and in St. Paul.”

Smith also offered a remembrance for Melissa Hortman, the former Minnesota House Speaker  who was assassinated along with her husband Mark nearly a year ago. When her male legislative counterparts interrupted and ignored female members on the House floor, Hortman memorably told male legislators she wouldn’t apologize for standing up for them.

“I am not apologizing for speaking truth to power,” Smith said to a cheering crowd, echoing Hortman’s floor speech. “I won’t apologize for standing up to protect the Boundary Waters…I won’t apologize for expanding access to health care. I won’t apologize for fighting for every single person in this state.”

At their convention in Duluth on Friday Republicans endorsed former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze for the Senate seat, but former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya said she will challenge him in the August primary for the party nomination.

Other speakers at the DFL convention Saturday will include Minnesota Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, 5th Congressional District Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Jake Johnson, a teacher from Rochester who is running to unseat First Congressional District Rep. Brad Finstad. 

The convention will also consider an endorsement in the State Auditor race. The candidates are Dan Wolgamott, Zach Filipovich and Adam Jennings. 

The endorsement process for the Senate race was expected to start around noon, though the convention got a late start as delegates moved slowly through security lines. 

Election 2026 

Minnesota political conventions 2026: DFL, GOP pick candidates

Catharine Richert

Author

After a late night, Democrats reconvened in Rochester with a plan to endorse a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Tina Smith gives opening remarks on stage

Democrats reconvene in Rochester to endorse for Senate, auditor

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