Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, defeats Republican candidate Michele Tafoya to win the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, according to projections and election coverage from multiple outlets. CBS News projects the result, while other publications report the win as the race concludes.
The campaign attracted national attention, with outlets noting the contest’s link to wider political controversy in Minnesota. The New York Post frames the election amid scrutiny of a sprawling public-benefits fraud scandal. PBS NewsHour and others emphasize the basic contest context: four candidates vied to replace Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who announced in 2025 she would not seek another term.
Several outlets also highlight historical and demographic significance. The New York Times says Flanagan’s election keeps the seat in Democratic hands and makes her the first Native American woman elected to the Senate. The New Republic adds that Flanagan becomes the first Native woman in the U.S. Senate, and it includes additional detail about the themes of the campaign. Other outlets focus more directly on the race result and, in one case, final polling.
