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The allure of a rare, open U.S. Senate seat proved enticing for a bunch of candidates this year but only a small number will go before voters in November, making Tuesday’s primaries closely watched in both major parties. 

After eight years in office, Democratic Sen. Tina Smith will give up the seat at the end of this term. It amounts to the first open Senate seat race in Minnesota in 20 years.

Smith’s DFL Party has seen a bruising and expensive race to decide who will get the spot on the fall ballot. More than $30 million was spent in the race between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, with the final tally expected to push even higher.

Their showdown has echoes of the progressive versus moderate primaries in many Democratic races throughout the country.

Flanagan attracted the endorsements of prominent liberal wing figures. Craig staked out a more-moderate lane. 

The race has largely focused on immigration and their response to the winter ICE surge.

Flanagan pounded on the fact that Craig voted for the Laken Riley Act, which gave the Trump administration greater power to detain immigrants suspected of crimes. It’s a vote she expressed regret for this spring.

Craig hit hard on fraud. She said Flanagan is vulnerable because she is part of Gov. Tim Walz's administration, which has struggled to contain financial abuse in social service programs.

Both hammered on the other’s campaign financing. Flanagan loudly touted her refusal of money from corporate political action committees but got help from a group that took them; Craig benefitted from outside backing to a greater degree and had to defend past donations.

Four other candidates vied for the nomination but ran lower-profile campaigns: Kurt Michael Anderson, George Kalberer, Peter Murgic and Billy Nord.

On the Republican side, former Navy Seal Adam Schwarze left the GOP convention in May with the state party's endorsement in hand. But he’s struggled to raise money and garner attention.

The candidate getting more of both is former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who collected millions of dollars and gained backing from several leading senators and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 

There’s also former basketball player Royce White — the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024 — known for hard-line MAGA stances and a confrontational approach.

Tafoya's opponents have both criticized her on abortion — she does not support a ban on it — and her past remarks indicating support for red flag gun laws to remove firearms from people deemed a risk to themselves or others.

Tafoya’s allies say she’s the only one who can elevate the race on the national map and give the party a place to go on offense in a year when it is on defense elsewhere.

The GOP primary also included a handful of others: Bob Carney, Jr., Cynthia Gail, Ahmad Hassan, Joyce Lacey, Patrick Munro and Tom Weiler.

The November ballot will also include two other candidates, Independent Marisa Simonetti and Libertarian Rebecca Whiting.

It’s possible Minnesota could have two new U.S. senators come January if Sen. Amy Klobuchar wins in the governor’s race. That would knock the state way down the seniority list in a chamber where longevity means influence.

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The race to fill the seat a U.S. Senate seat has led to an expensive, often caustic DFL primary between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig. On the GOP side, former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya faces basketball player Royce White and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

Cait Kelley | MPR News

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, left, and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan

Two contested primaries fill out fall ballot for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat

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