The Fluence Brief: The DFL Senate Race

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Nationally Democrats are divided internally, and unified externally. Minnesota’s US Senate race reflects this reality, and Minnesota Democrats are consternating about which path the party will take in 2026. Will it stay center left, or will it go further left.

That’s the set-up of the race between Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

The reality is since State Sen. Karin Housley ran against Sen. Tina Smith in 2018, there hasn’t been a serious Senate race that Republicans felt strongly about. That may have given DFLers a false sense of security.

Winning and electability are something DFLers are openly talking about. They seem to feel like the formula built by Gov. Tim Walz in 2018, and fmr. Gov. Mark Dayton worked well – run a strong statewide, more moderate candidate with strong fundraising in a primary against a weaker and more liberal candidate. It worked in Governor’s races, but the reality is that DFLers haven’t had a highly competitive US Senate primary since maybe 1994.

The question for a party that is being pulled left by the DSA movement, and more progressive Democrats is: Will the 2010 and 2018 Governor’s formula work in 2026 for the primary?Forward to friends - we’ll have regular paid MNsider content in 2026.

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The Dynamics and Dilemma of the DFL Senate Race

Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are illustrative of the national Democratic debate about electability. They also fit the conversations and tension among DFLers in Minnesota. Electability is not a new debate within the party, the difference in Minnesota is that it’s been so long since DFLers lost a statewide race that they may not remember the races that were unsuccessful.

It’s been highlighted in the Schumer vs. Sanders national stories – and sharp elbows have started to show up in the race.