MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced she plans to run for U.S. Senate on the same day Sen. Tina Smith announced she will not be seeking reelection next year.
Flanagan announced the news on Instagram Thursday.
“I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state,” Flanagan said. “I’ll make a formal announcement later this month. In the meantime, I’m talking with community and my family and friends. I will have more to say soon.”
Flanagan is the country’s highest ranking Native woman elected to executive office. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, she would have become the first Native American woman to become a U.S. governor if the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket won in the presidential election.
After a stint serving on the Minneapolis Board of Education, Flanagan started working for the progressive group Wellstone Action, training organizers, elected officials and candidates with dreams of taking office. She even trained Walz, who before his political career was a high school social studies teacher.
When Walz made his first gubernatorial run in 2018, he tapped Flanagan, who gave his candidacy a liberal tilt.
Since taking office, Flanagan helped establish the country’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office and has worked to make childcare and housing more affordable. She is a vocal supporter of abortion rights.
Flanagan shouldered more responsibility as Walz hit the campaign trail last fall. In a recent interview with WCCO, Walz praised Flanagan for her work as second-in-command but did not confirm if she would be joining him if he were to run for a third term.
“Lt. Gov. Flanagan has been a voice for children. She has been a voice to make sure our communities are represented. She’s been a voice on looking to make sure our tribal communities are listened to,” Walz said. “I think she — she and I together — have been highly successful, and when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it.”
After Smith made her announcement Thursday, Flanagan released a statement saying that the senator “has paved the way for so many women like me throughout her entire career.”
“She uses her voice to fiercely defend the people of Minnesota. She’s fought for small businesses, farmers, and those who’ve been overlooked so they can have a fair shot at economic success. Senator Smith is also an organizer at heart. She knows we all do better when everyone has a seat at the table. Thank you, Tina, for your leadership. I look forward to continuing our work together for Minnesotans,” she added.
Smith said her decision was “not political” but instead “entirely personal.” Minnesota has not had a Republican senator since Norm Coleman narrowly lost a reelection campaign to the DFL’s Al Franken in 2008.
