EXCLUSIVE MEMO FOR DFL DELEGATES: STATE OF MINNESOTA’S OPEN U.S. SENATE RACE
Across the country, voters are eschewing institutional Democrats for candidates who are ready to fight for a bold, audacious, and defiant vision for the future, of the possibility of what can be and what we should all demand of our government.
Nowhere is that more evident than in the Minnesota Democratic Senate primary. Polling shows Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan leads Rep. Angie Craig by 13 points and is in a strong position to beat MAGA Republican Michele Tafoya in November.
Minnesota’s Choice - Peggy Flanagan leads primary and general election polling
Recent polling shows Peggy leading the Minnesota Democratic U.S. Senate primary by 13 points, 49% to 36%, and leading Rep. Craig in all parts of the state – rural, suburban, and urban. Peggy leads in every public poll of the race, including Rep. Craig’s own internal polling released at the end of January.
Peggy’s track record as a proven, progressive fighter resonates with Minnesotans across the state. Peggy has higher name identification (92 percent) and favorable ratings (70 percent) than Rep. Craig (83 percent name ID, 60 percent favorable).
As the only statewide office-holder in the race, Peggy leads everywhere in the state, including a dominant 24-point lead in Greater Minnesota (53%-29%). She leads in the Twin Cities metro area (including the suburbs) 48 percent to 39 percent and in Greater Minnesota 53 percent to 29 percent. Thanks to two statewide tours spanning dozens of communities during this campaign, tens of thousands of voters across the state have already seen and heard Peggy in their backyards.
Meanwhile, 75% of likely primary voters voice serious concerns about Rep. Craig’s pro-Trump voting record on this issue, which is of dominating concern to the electorate. Voters find Rep. Craig less favorable than Peggy Flanagan, and they find her record standing with ICE, enabling Trump’s cryptocurrency schemes, and voting with Tom Emmer 45% of the time, disqualifying.
Independent polls show Peggy is poised to defeat MAGA Michele Tafoya in the general election. View this polling from Emerson College:
Recent polling shows Peggy Flanagan in a strong position to beat a Republican in November. While Republicans are currently embroiled in a messy primary and the eventual nominee is not clear, Peggy is the only candidate in the race with a higher favorability rating than GOP fundraising leader Michele Tafoya and leads her by seven points.
Flanagan finds support in every corner of Minnesota after two statewide tours
Thanks to two statewide tours spanning dozens of communities during this campaign, Peggy leads everywhere in the state, including a dominant 24-point lead in Greater Minnesota (53%-29%).
In this moment, when voters are fed up with politics as usual, Peggy has brought her campaign to their backyards, libraries, local bars, and coffee shops. Everywhere she goes, Minnesotans are demanding big, bold change and leaders that reject status quo politics.
Since launching her campaign, Peggy has personally attended over 200 campaign events, including 82 events in CDs 1, 6, 7, and 8. Everywhere she goes, packed rooms of supporters follow.
Peggy Flanagan backed by a powerful coalition of supporters
Peggy is backed by a growing and powerful grassroots coalition. As Minnesotans clamor for a leader who will stand up to ICE — not enable them — Peggy’s support is growing around the state and country:
- In February, Peggy was endorsed by outgoing U.S. Senator Tina Smith, whose seat Peggy hopes to fill. Having earned the support of Senator Smith and former Senator Al Franken, Peggy Flanagan is supported by the two Minnesotans who have served the state in this Senate seat for the last 17 years.
- Backed by the Senate’s popular and influential “Fight Club,” Peggy Flanagan has the support of eight Democratic senators – more support than any other Senate candidate in a contested primary. Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy, Ed Markey, Martin Heinrich, and Jeff Merkley join Senator Tina Smith and former Senator Al Franken in endorsing Peggy Flanagan for Senate.
- Minnesota’s grassroots Democrats are fully behind Peggy. Peggy was unanimously endorsed by 80+ chapters of the Minnesota Indivisible Alliance and was the first Senate candidate to earn the backing of the national Indivisible organization, a network of more than 2,500 groups and millions of members nationwide, including 20,000 in Minnesota. With support from delegates all over the state, she is poised to win the Minnesota DFL Party’s endorsement as well.
- Peggy has earned the support of Minnesota unions representing over 112,000 members. Peggy is supported by the SEIU Minnesota State Council, the Minnesota Nurses Association/National Nurses United, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, UFCW Local 663, and the Inter-Faculty Organization, which collectively represent over 112,000 union workers.
- Peggy’s coalition includes over 100 state and local leaders and a majority of DFLers representing Minnesotans in the state legislature. In addition to Senator Tina Smith, Peggy is backed by Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha, and over 100 state and local officials across the state.
- Endorsed by End Citizens United, Peggy Flanagan is the only candidate who can credibly communicate about taking on corporate interests to deliver for people. Peggy is the only candidate in the Senate race who has chosen to refuse corporate PAC money – and the only one who voters will trust to take on corporate interests to deliver for people.