Minnesota primaries test Democrats on immigration, Republicans on Trump

Minnesota voters are choosing nominees for open Senate and governor’s races Tuesday, setting up statewide contests shaped by immigration enforcement, fraud scandals and Donald Trump’s influence in a state that has long leaned Democratic.

The highest-profile Democratic fight is for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tina Smith, who said she would not seek re-election because she wanted to spend time with her grandchildren and make room for new faces. Smith has endorsed Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive who is running against U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, an establishment-backed Democrat who has won competitive races in a swing district south of the Twin Cities.

Immigration has become the central issue in the Senate primary. Craig has faced criticism for supporting the Laken Riley Act, a federal law requiring detention for undocumented immigrants accused of certain local crimes. The law was named for a Georgia woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Craig later said she regretted her vote, writing in March that it had “become clear that supporting any bill that gives ICE new authority in this administration was the wrong decision.”

Flanagan said Craig’s vote showed “a real lack of judgment” and argued that Craig owed Minnesotans an apology. “We can stand with the immigrant community and not just when it’s politically expedient for us,” Flanagan told volunteers in St. Paul, according to Al Jazeera.

The debate follows a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis from late 2025 through early 2026 that drew protests and clashes with residents. In January, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal officers, prompting backlash to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Both Craig and Flanagan criticized the operation, and Craig introduced articles of impeachment against then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Craig has argued that Flanagan is vulnerable because of fraud scandals tied to state programs, including criminal cases involving alleged theft from meals for children, autism services and housing programs. “State fraud is the No. 1 issue as Minnesota voters go to the polls in November,” Craig told The New York Times. “Fairly or not, the lieutenant governor has a unique vulnerability as our statewide Senate candidate because she’s been helping run the state for the last eight years.”

Flanagan, 46, is a citizen of the White Earth Nation and previously served in the state House. She supports Medicare for All and has been endorsed by prominent progressives including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Craig, 54, was first elected to Congress in 2018, flipping a Republican-held seat and becoming Minnesota’s first out lesbian elected to Congress. Her supporters include Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Republicans also have a Senate primary. The field includes former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, who has the state party endorsement, and former professional basketball player Royce White, the party’s 2024 nominee for Minnesota’s other Senate seat. Trump has not endorsed in that race, Al Jazeera reported.

In the governor’s race, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to win her party’s nomination after Gov. Tim Walz dropped his bid for a third term. The Guardian reported that Walz withdrew after fraud scandals threatened to distract from the race.

On the Republican side, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is running with Trump’s endorsement against state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls, who won the endorsement of Republican activists. Lindell has continued to claim the 2020 election was stolen and has faced defamation lawsuits from voting machine companies and others. He also faces allegations of a potential campaign finance violation after distributing free pillows at a parade; an administrative law judge found probable cause to believe the pillows were distributed to influence voters. Lindell called the complaint “complete nonsense.”

Minnesota has not elected a Republican statewide since 2006, when Tim Pawlenty won re-election as governor, and no Republican presidential candidate has carried the state since 1972. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT.