Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig on Tuesday launched a campaign for the state’s open Senate seat, joining a growing field of Democrats seeking to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.
In her launch video, Craig, who flipped a suburban swing district in 2018, pitches herself as a scrappy underdog who has consistently defied political odds.
“I’ve had to fight my whole life, and damn if we don’t have a fight on our hands right now,’’ says Craig, who’s currently in her fourth term representing Minnesota’s 2nd District, south of the Twin Cities.
She vows in the video to “break through the chaos” in Washington and take on President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress. The video features interviews with voters who express concern about the impact of Trump’s tariffs, Elon Musk’s cost-slashing efforts and the rising cost of food.
Craig, who currently serves as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, is coming off a week that saw her hold town halls in all four of the Republican-held districts in Minnesota. Several Democratic lawmakers have taken similar steps to highlight the fact that many Republicans, on the advice of House GOP leaders, are not holding in-person constituent events. But the tour also gave Craig an opportunity to introduce herself to voters outside her district.
Smith surprised the political world in February when she announced that she would not seek a second full term next year, saying she wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren and father.
The Democratic primary for Smith’s seat already includes two high-profile hopefuls: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen. Gov. Tim Walz, who ran as the Democratic vice presidential nominee last year, has said he will not run for the Senate seat as he contemplates seeking a third term as governor.
Craig enters the Senate race with a likely fundraising edge. Federal filings show she raised $1.2 million for her House campaign during the first three months of the year, ending March with $1.1 million — funds that she could transfer to a Senate account.
Flanagan, who is hoping to be the first Native American woman elected to the Senate, raised $452,000 during the first quarter and had $367,000 on hand on March 31. She’s already won endorsements from former Sen. Al Franken, state Auditor Julie Blaha and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, himself a former congressman.
López Franzen reported raising $260,00 during the first three months of the year, including a $100,000 personal loan, and entered April with $252,000 banked.
Republicans have signaled that they will seek to compete next year in Minnesota, which has not elected a GOP candidate to statewide office since 2006. The last Republican to win a Senate race from the North Star State was Norm Coleman in 2002.
The GOP primary currently includes former NBA player Royce White, who was the party’s losing nominee for the state’s other Senate seat last year; and retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze. Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is also said to be contemplating a run.
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Senate race in Minnesota as a battleground.
In her launch video, Craig recalls growing up in a mobile home park and being raised by a single mother.
“Nobody gave us much of a chance,” she says. “No one gave me much of a chance to win a Republican congressional seat, either. Well, they keep underestimating us and we keep winning.”
Before coming to Congress, Craig worked in executive and director roles for medical manufacturer Smith & Nephew, as well as leading global human resources for St. Jude Medical.
She was first elected to the 2nd District in 2018, unseating Republican Jason Lewis on her second attempt and becoming the first openly gay woman elected to Congress from Minnesota. Her reelection wins have grown progressively more comfortable; she won a fourth term last fall by 13 points, overperforming Kamala Harris, who carried the seat by 7 points, according to calculations by elections analyst Drew Savicki.
Craig’s decision to run for Senate will likely set off a competitive race for her 2nd District seat. Inside Elections currently rates the race Leans Democratic, but Republicans could have a better shot at flipping the seat without the four-term incumbent in the race.
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