By: Jenna Pakirtzis

October 3, 2025

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a trailblazer in Minnesota politics and citizen of the White Earth Nation, is once again making history, this time with a run for the U.S. Senate. Flanagan, a rising star within the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, announced her candidacy on Feb. 20, 2025, just one week after Sen. Tina Smith confirmed she would not seek re-election.

Born and raised in St. Louis Park, Flanagan often reflects on how her early life shaped her political goals. Programs like Medicaid and Section 8 housing helped keep her family afloat, paving the way for her future in public service. These experiences have fueled her focus on economic justice in public policy.

If elected, Flanagan would become the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, a historic milestone for both Minnesota and the nation. She enters the race with a well-established following and a strong political résumé, built over two terms as lieutenant governor under Gov. Tim Walz.

Flanagan’s political career began in 2005, when she was elected to the Minneapolis School Board at age 25, becoming the youngest member in its history. After years of advocating for education, she shifted her focus to the Minnesota House, representing District 46A from 2015 until joining the Walz administration in 2019.

As lieutenant governor, Flanagan has prioritized child welfare and support for working families, particularly among historically underrepresented communities across the state. While she has not yet released a detailed Senate platform, she has pledged to reject corporate PAC money. This move distinguishes her from more moderate Democrats and appeals to progressive voters.

Her stance is likely to resonate in a political climate where many Democratic voters express frustration with the party’s perceived reluctance to challenge entrenched institutions and its emphasis on bipartisanship over bold policy initiatives.

Flanagan’s Senate bid has already drawn endorsements from several high-profile Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Sen. Al Franken, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.