Peggy Flanagan’s Senate primary win in Minnesota handed Chuck Schumer another setback as Democrats’ left-center fight spread across Tuesday’s contests.
PEGGY FLANAGAN’s Senate primary win in Minnesota delivered another blow to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and underscored how fierce the party’s left-center fight has become heading toward 2026. On a busy primary Tuesday, progressives also scored in other contests, while establishment forces held their ground in Wisconsin and Republicans tested the reach of President Donald Trump’s endorsements in several states.
Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, defeated Rep. Angie Craig by roughly 20 points to capture the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat being left open by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan was backed by leading progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Craig had the support of Schumer and other Democratic establishment figures. The result marks Schumer’s second straight primary setback after progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly beat moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan a week earlier.
The Minnesota result matters well beyond one nomination fight. Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in the state in 24 years, but Flanagan’s victory could still complicate Democrats’ hold on a seat in a state that leans blue but remains competitive. Flanagan will face GOP nominee Michele Tafoya, a former longtime NBC Sports reporter. Flanagan has also said that if elected, she would not back Schumer as Senate Democratic leader, making the race a live test of the party’s future direction as much as a fight for a seat.
In Wisconsin, the most closely watched ideological clash of the night went the other way. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong in the Democratic governor primary after consolidating support from more mainstream Democrats, including outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America member, ran on an agenda that included guaranteed paid leave, a higher minimum wage, and a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers in Wisconsin. Crowley will now face Rep. Tom Tiffany, a hard-right Republican backed by Trump, in the general election to replace Evers, who is not seeking a third term.
“Peggy Flanagan’s Senate primary win in Minnesota handed Chuck Schumer another setback as Democrats’ left-center fight spread across Tuesday’s contests.”
Hong drew support from nationally known progressives such as Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, though Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stayed out of the race. Her campaign also came under scrutiny over old social media posts, including one calling to “cancel Thanksgiving,” which she later walked back. Evers warned that Hong would be an easier target for Republicans in November, while GOP-aligned outside groups reportedly spent heavily to elevate her in the primary because they viewed her as a weaker general-election opponent.
The primary season also continued a broader Democratic generational turnover. In Connecticut, Rep. John Larson lost his primary by double digits to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in the state’s first congressional district. The contest was less about ideology than age and longevity, with Bronin, 47, defeating Larson, 78, after nearly three decades in Congress. Larson’s defeat made him the seventh House Democrat pushed out so far this primary season. Other older incumbents have also fallen to younger challengers as Democratic voters press for a new generation of leadership.
That pressure is likely to keep building. In Massachusetts, 47-year-old Rep. Seth Moulton is preparing to challenge 80-year-old Sen. Ed Markey in another Democratic Senate primary. Elsewhere, the Trump factor remained strong but not foolproof inside the GOP. In South Carolina, appointee Sen. Darline Graham led the Republican field in the special Senate primary to succeed her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, but she did not clear 50% and will meet Rep. Ralph Norman in a runoff in two weeks. The winner will be favored in the general election against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. For Democrats, the takeaway is plain: the party’s internal fight over ideology and age is now shaping who carries its banner, and that will influence whether the GOP gets fresh openings in battleground states like Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Minnesota Democratic Senate primary?
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig by roughly 20 points. Flanagan will run for the seat held by retiring Sen. Tina Smith.
Why is Flanagan’s win seen as a setback for Chuck Schumer?
Craig was backed by Schumer and other establishment Democrats, while Flanagan had support from leading progressives. It followed another progressive Senate win in Michigan.
What happened in Wisconsin’s governor primary?
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong. Crowley had support from Gov. Tony Evers and will face Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.
How did the South Carolina Republican Senate primary end?
Appointee Sen. Darline Graham led the field but fell short of a majority, forcing a runoff with Rep. Ralph Norman in two weeks. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews.
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