Immigration vote fuels split in Minnesota Democratic Senate primary
Minnesota Democrats Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan clash over the incumbent's support for a 2025 immigration enforcement bill as they vie for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Tina Smith.
Minnesota voters will choose between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tina Smith. The race has been shaped by Craig’s 2025 vote for the Laken Riley Act, a bill that expands immigration detention, and her subsequent public regret after a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis resulted in two deaths.
Craig, who flipped a Republican House seat in 2018 and has faced aggressive Republican advertising, says her experience winning competitive elections makes her suited to keep the Senate seat Democratic. She told reporters, "I consider myself a progressive," and noted that opponents highlight the few votes she cast against party lines.
Flanagan, positioning herself as the progressive alternative, criticized Craig’s immigration vote as a betrayal of the immigrant community. > "My primary opponent voted for Donald Trump’s immigration bill and was the only Minnesota Democrat to do so. She since then has said that she regrets that vote, and I’m glad. But it shouldn’t have taken 14 months," Flanagan said to volunteers in St. Paul.
The two campaigns differ markedly in fundraising. As of July 22, Craig’s campaign reported spending about $9 million, while Flanagan’s has spent roughly $5.5 million. Outside groups have also poured more money into Craig’s side.
Both candidates have attracted endorsements from prominent Democrats. Craig received backing from Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson and the wife of Gov. Tim Walz, while Flanagan was supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders, who urged voters to reject billionaire-funded ads.
The primary comes amid lingering memories of protests outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where immigration agents were stationed for months and two protesters were killed. Volunteers continue to monitor the area and maintain memorials for the victims, underscoring how the immigration issue remains a potent backdrop to the contest.