Who is running for Senate in Minnesota's DFL primary?
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Six candidates are running for the U.S. Senate in the DFL primary race in Minnesota. They include Kurt Michael Anderson, Angie Craig, Peggy Flanagan, George H. Kalberer, Peter John Murgic and Billy Nord.
Kurt Michael Anderson
Why are you running?
“To restore a United States of America that is muscular, confident, compassionate, and prudent.”
What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position?
“48 year law practice including 30 years representing farmers in distress, overlapping 30 years representing mental health patients; 18 years of high level involvement in the DFL, more recent involvement with independent politics”
What are the top issues you're discussing with voters and why?
“Impeach current executive and judicial leadership; close the federal budget deficit and pay off debt in 10-15 years; WHILE restoring cuts to social benefits; curbing and reversing the pornification of our culture (details online).”
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Angie Craig
Why are you running?
“I first ran for office because I was sick of the status quo. Against all odds, I flipped a Republican seat. I’m running for Senate because this moment calls for serious, experienced leaders who are focused on delivering results, not just rhetoric. In eight years, I’ve had thirteen bills signed into law that have lowered the cost of healthcare and taken on corporate greed and political corruption. I’ll never be afraid to call out what’s wrong, and I'll never back down from a fight.”
What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position?
“I grew up in a mobile home park raised by a single mom and my grandmother and we didn't always have healthcare. I had to fight for the right to adopt my oldest son and to marry my wife, Cheryl. I had a career at a major Minnesota medical manufacturing company before running for office but in 2018 I got off the sidelines because I saw Donald Trump as a threat. My lived experiences have led me to this point—it’s why I show up every day in Congress to fight on behalf of Minnesotans. As a member of Congress I have the experience and results. I wrote that bill that capped the cost of insulin at $35 for Seniors.”
What are the top issues you're discussing with voters and why?
“My focus will remain on the issues Minnesotans I meet care about the most – lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and fixing a broken Washington. This includes fixing Social Security, taking on corporations that are jacking up costs for working families, making healthcare affordable by passing Medicare for all who want it – a public option – and protecting our communities from this administration’s reckless policies. In the Senate I’ll always protect people’s hard-earned benefits and put working and middle class families above special interests.”
Peggy Flanagan
Why are you running?
“I’m running for the United States senate because I want people to be able to afford the lives they want to live. I grew up raised by a single mom, feeling like the bottom could fall out at any moment. We relied on programs like Section 8 housing, SNAP, childcare assistance, and Medicaid to get by. Too many Minnesotans are doing everything right and still falling behind. I’m the only candidate in this race refusing corporate PAC money because I believe big corporations and billionaires have enough representation in Washington. I’m running to take on corporate interests and fight for bold solutions to make our government work for working people again.”
What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position?
“My life taught me what’s possible when people are given a fair shot. Public programs helped us get by, and I’ve spent my career fighting to make sure others have the same chance. I became the youngest person ever elected to the Minneapolis School Board, trained thousands of grassroots organizers through Wellstone Action, led the Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, served in the Minnesota House, and now as Lieutenant Governor. I led the fight to raise wages, establish paid family and medical leave, provide free school meals for kids, pass one of the nation’s strongest child tax credits, and lower the cost of insulin. I’m honored to have Senator Tina Smith’s endorsement, who made the same journey from Lieutenant Governor to Senate.”
What are the top issues you're discussing with voters and why?
“Everywhere I go, people tell me they can’t afford their lives. Minnesotans are worried about the cost of housing, health care, childcare, groceries, and whether their paycheck will stretch far enough. People are tired of politicians asking them to settle for less while corporations and the people at the very top get richer. They’re hungry for leaders who will get money out of politics, take on powerful interests, and fight for bold policies that put working families first. That’s why I’m fighting for Medicare for All, universal childcare, raising the federal minimum wage, protecting Social Security and Medicare, banning Wall Street from buying up entire neighborhoods, and holding ICE accountable and fixing our broken immigration system.”
George H. Kalberer
As of publishing, this candidate has not responded.
Peter John Murgic
As of publishing, this candidate has not responded.
Billy Nord
Why are you running?
“I'm running because, like many Working Class Minnesotans, I'm discouraged by the lack of adequate response by our current elected representatives in Congress. We need more us representing us: people with real world experience, who know firsthand the current day struggle to pay a bill, to feed our kids, to live life in a constant state of panic because of the intentional stress forced upon us by our federal government. I'm not taking any campaign donations so I'll be beholden only to Minnesotans, not donors needing another person in Congress walking on eggshells when it comes to regulating corporations. The same corporations continuing to financially crush us in the Working Class.”
What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position?
“I've worked as a dishwasher, I've done the graveyard shift in both an office and in the cleaning industry, I've been a stay at home parent, I've sold clothing and I currently work a 9-5 in quality control. My family, we currently live paycheck to paycheck. We need more people who work to keep our country running, actually crafting the legislation affecting us directly. We need less self-described leaders, and more representatives.”
What are the top issues you're discussing with voters and why?
“1. Attack Big Grocery price gouging. Trillion dollar corporations like Walmart continue to keep their prices elevated, exploiting Trump's now-illegal tariffs and the Iran war, despite raking in record breaking profits. 2. Ending the health insurance industry. The money deducted from our paychecks each week should go directly into the healthcare system guaranteeing us care when we need it, not to a corporation profiting off of denying us care when we're at our most desperate. 3. Re-establishing gender affirming care for military families. 4. Dismantling the Department of Homeland Security, ending ICE. 5. Free Narcan to all, delivered by the USPS. 6. Vacation tax credits for all retirees. Self-care is healthcare.”
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