2026 Minnesota Voter Guide:
U.S. Senate

General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting begins September 18, 2026; polls are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on Election Day. [BP-1]

This is an open seat. Incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (DFL), who first assumed office in 2018, announced she would not seek re-election in 2026. [BP-1] It is Minnesota's first U.S. Senate race without an incumbent on the ballot since 2006 (roster file, this folder). The winner will serve a six-year term beginning January 3, 2027.

Editorial rule for this series: objective facts and law only. Every fact is sourced or omitted. Candidate platform statements are presented in the candidates' own framing and attributed; nothing a campaign says about itself or an opponent is asserted here as fact. No endorsements.

What a U.S. Senator does

• The Senate is one of the two chambers of Congress. Each state elects two senators; senators serve six-year terms and have been chosen by direct popular election since the Seventeenth Amendment (1913). U.S. Const. art. I, § 3; amend. XVII.
• Senators vote on federal legislation (revenue bills must originate in the House, art. I, § 7), and the Senate holds two roles the House does not: "advice and consent" on treaties (two-thirds vote) and on presidential nominations — judges, cabinet officers, ambassadors (art. II, § 2) — and the sole power to try impeachments (art. I, § 3). See also senate.gov, "Powers and Procedures" (https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures.htm).
• This race fills Minnesota's Class II seat (the seat held by Sen. Smith); the term runs to January 2033.

The field and how it was set

Certified from the August 11, 2026 primary; cross-confirmed by Ballotpedia and Wikipedia. [BP-1][WP-1]

Primary results (Aug. 11, 2026): DFL — Flanagan 58.9% (399,060) def. U.S. Rep. Angie Craig 39.5% (267,443) and four others. GOP — Tafoya 51.8% (201,981) def. Adam Schwarze 23.5%, Royce White 11.2%, and six others. [BP-1] Withdrawn unaffiliated candidate: Edward Tambornino. [BP-1]

Ratings and polling (for context, not prediction): As of Aug. 25, 2026, The Cook Political Report, Decision Desk, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the race Likely Democratic. A SurveyUSA/KSTP poll (Aug. 13–17, 2026; 661 LV; ±4.3%) reported Flanagan 46%, Tafoya 41%, Simonetti 1%, Whiting 1%, 11% undecided. A Deep Root Analytics poll sponsored by the Tafoya campaign (Aug. 17–18; 597 RV; ±4.0%) reported Flanagan 50%, Tafoya 45%. [BP-1]

Campaign finance (FEC, as of July 22, 2026, via Ballotpedia): Flanagan — $6,517,348 raised / $1,058,604 on hand. Tafoya — $5,337,942 raised / $1,372,728 on hand. Whiting — $1,257 raised. Simonetti — no receipts reported. [BP-1]

Peggy Flanagan (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)

Identity & background

Born September 22, 1979, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where she still lives; she is Ojibwe and Irish and a citizen of the White Earth Nation. She graduated from St. Louis Park High School and earned a B.A. in child psychology with a minor in American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota (2002). Career before statewide office: trainer at Wellstone Action; executive director of the Children's Defense Fund–Minnesota (from 2013); partner at The Management Center, an executive-coaching firm. Married to Tom Weber, a former Minnesota Public Radio host; one daughter. [WP-2][BP-1]

Public service / elected record

Offices held: Minneapolis Board of Education (elected 2004, served 2005–2009; brief 2010–11 appointment); Minnesota House of Representatives, District 46A (2015–2019); Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (2019–present). [WP-2][BP-2]

Dated actions from her tenure (as reported): - 2017 — co-founded the Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus. [WP-2] - 2018 — co-authored legislation creating Minnesota's task force on missing and murdered Indigenous women. [WP-2] - 2019 — as lieutenant governor, advocated for the $100/month increase in Minnesota Family Investment Program assistance. [WP-2] - 2021 — championed the Healthy Start Act (placement of incarcerated new mothers with their infants). [WP-2] - 2023 — Minnesota enacted the paid family and medical leave program, universal school meals, and the 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 standard during her tenure; her campaign cites her role in passing the paid-leave law and spearheading universal school meals. [FL-1][FL-2] - Feb. 13, 2025 — announced her U.S. Senate candidacy; won the DFL endorsement May 30, 2026, and the primary Aug. 11, 2026. [WP-2]

Stated platform (her campaign's framing — attributed, not asserted)

From her campaign's "Priorities" page [FL-2] and Ballotpedia's curated key messages [BP-1]: - Anti-corruption: her campaign says she takes no corporate PAC money and that she will "fight to ban corporate money in our elections and require disclosure of all donors," reverse Citizens United, and ban stock trading by federal elected officials. - Healthcare: her campaign says she "believes healthcare is a human right and will fight for Medicare for All," and, until then, to "expand access to care and rein in insurance company greed," including banning prior-authorization denials of prescribed care. - Wages/labor: her campaign says she will push to raise the federal minimum wage to "at least $17 an hour and tied to inflation" and cites her role co-chairing Minnesota's 2014 minimum-wage coalition. - Housing: her campaign cites the 2023 state housing investment (down-payment assistance, construction support, rental assistance) and says she will fight corporate pricing of renters and buyers. - Immigration: her campaign says "ICE is out of control and that we must dismantle the agency and reimagine an immigration system rooted in dignity, safety, and due process," while also saying "we must have a strong and secure border." She told Sahan Journal she would replace ICE with a system emphasizing public safety and citizenship pathways. [SJ-1] - Agriculture: her campaign says she will "fight to reverse the damage caused by Trump's tariffs" and cites her work on the Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative and Sustainable Aviation Fuel. - Climate: her campaign supports wind, solar, biofuels, and "green steel and green ammonia from green hydrogen," and opposes rollbacks of clean-energy investments. - Framing of the race: Ballotpedia's curated key message quotes her site: she is "running because there aren't enough people in Washington who understand the struggles families are facing and are ready to fight back." [BP-1] She told MinnPost: "I'm running to make sure people can afford their lives." [MP-1]

Notable public-record items

• State fraud cases as a general-election issue. Federal prosecutors obtained 68 convictions in the Feeding Our Future case, in which at least $250 million was siphoned from a pandemic-era child-nutrition program administered by the State of Minnesota; separately, state Housing Stabilization Services spending grew from $3.3 million (2020) to $108.8 million (2024) before the program was shut down amid suspected widespread fraud. These cases occurred during the Walz-Flanagan administration; reporting on the race notes no allegation that Flanagan personally participated in or profited from any fraud, and she has said of the administration's response, "The governor has said the buck stops with him and that more should have been done sooner, and I agree with him." (Minnesota Reformer, July 28, 2026, syndicated via KFGO; Sahan Journal, Aug. 14, 2026; Fox News has also covered her proximity to the scandal.) [MR-1][SJ-1][FX-3] A Star Tribune/KARE 11/Hubbard School poll reported 81% of likely voters concerned about fraud in state government. [MR-1]

What supporters and critics say

• Supporter: After conceding the primary, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig told her supporters, "To everybody who supported me, I ask you tonight to support Peggy Flanagan as the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota," describing Flanagan as filled with "grit and determination." [MP-1]
• Critic: Republican nominee Michele Tafoya said in a post-primary statement: "Minnesota is going 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction after years of single-party rule. They've turned our state into a national embarrassment." [MP-1]

Michele Tafoya (Republican)

Identity & background

Born December 17, 1964, in Manhattan Beach, California (age 61); lives in Edina, Minnesota. B.A. in mass communications, UC Berkeley (1988); MBA, University of Southern California (1991). Broadcasting career: KFAN-AM Minneapolis and WCCO-TV; CBS Sports (1994–1999); ABC Sports/ESPN, including Monday Night Football sideline reporter (2004–2010); NBC Sunday Night Football sideline reporter (2011–2022). She worked her final broadcast at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022 — her fifth Super Bowl — after covering 327 NFL games, and won multiple Sports Emmy Awards (Wikipedia counts five; her campaign site says four). Married to Mark Vandersall; her campaign materials reference two children. [WP-3][TF-2][FX-1]

Public service / elected record

Tafoya has not held elective or appointive public office. Political activity since broadcasting: in February 2022 she co-chaired Republican Kendall Qualls's campaign for governor (Qualls did not win the nomination); she has since worked as a political and cultural commentator and podcast host. She announced her U.S. Senate candidacy January 21, 2026, and won the Republican primary August 11, 2026, defeating the party-endorsed candidate, Adam Schwarze. [WP-3][FX-1][MP-1] Wikipedia describes her as a self-described "pro-choice conservative with libertarian leanings"; if elected she would be Minnesota's first Hispanic/Latina Republican U.S. senator. [WP-3]

Stated platform (her campaign's framing — attributed, not asserted)

From her campaign's "Issues" page [TF-1]: - Fraud: her campaign says she will "cosponsor and lead the Deporting Fraudsters Act with Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and John Cornyn," seek "tough new mandatory minimum sentences" for fraud, and "push to strip federal funding from any state that refuses to implement anti-fraud controls." - Law and order: her campaign says she will "push for more funding, top-quality equipment and training" for law enforcement and "fight tooth and nail against the far left's campaign to abolish ICE and reopen America's borders." - Taxes/costs: her campaign says she will "oppose any tax increase on the middle class," "fight ALL the bureaucrats, middlemen and price-gougers, cut prescription drug costs," and support "all U.S. energy sources." - Education/culture: her campaign says she will "keep men out of women's sports and locker rooms" and "fight for education reform that restores parents' say." - Elections: her campaign says she will "fight for the SAVE Act and other commonsense steps to protect the ballot," including voter ID and paper ballots. - Framing of the race: at her launch she said, "We are suffering a crisis here in Minnesota, and really, it's a crisis of leadership," and "I'm not willing to stand on the sidelines while Minnesotans are let down by leaders who refuse to take responsibility." [FX-1]

Notable public-record items

• No litigation, ethics findings, or comparable public-record items concerning Tafoya were identified in at least two reputable outlets during this research. (Single-source items appearing only on her Wikipedia page — a 2003 incident at a Minnesota-Michigan football game for which she publicly apologized, and criticism of a March 2026 statistic she cited on a Fox News program — are noted here as unverified against a second outlet; see Limitations.) [WP-3]

What supporters and critics say

• Supporter: Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, endorsing her in May 2026, said, "I've known Michele Tafoya for over 30 years, and I can tell you this: Michele is the real deal." [OK-1]
• Critic: Flanagan has said Tafoya "would be a 'yes, sir' senator" for President Trump and is "completely out of touch with Minnesotans and what we have endured," pointing to ICE-operation footage in Tafoya's launch video. [MS-1]

Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian)

Identity & background

Born in Picayune, Mississippi; earned a high school diploma from Picayune High School and a bachelor's degree from American Military University (2010). U.S. Army veteran; in her 2024 Ballotpedia survey she described serving as a combat medic in Iraq (Ramadi 2004–05, Baghdad 2006–07). (Ballotpedia's page lists her service years inconsistently — 2000–2007 in the infobox, 2004–2007 in the biography text; see Limitations.) Career: farmer, baker, and small-business owner; she describes herself as a homeschooling mother raising a large family on a small farm in northern Minnesota. Coverage places her in the Bemidji area. [BP-3][WP-1]

Public service / elected record

Whiting has not held elective public office. She has chaired the Libertarian Party of Minnesota since 2024. [BP-3] She was the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024, receiving 55,215 votes (1.7%) in the race won by Sen. Amy Klobuchar. [BP-3] For 2026 she qualified by petition; the Libertarian Party of Minnesota reported submitting 3,829 signatures for her U.S. Senate petition (2,000 required). [LP-1][BP-1]

Stated platform (her campaign's framing — attributed, not asserted)

From her 2026 campaign website [RW-1]: - Non-intervention: "No more wars. Unless the United States is attacked, we have no business using our military in foreign countries." Also: "Bring the troops home" and "No more entangling alliances." - Veterans: "Privatize the VA, allow the free market to give veterans the best access to care." - Monetary policy: "End the fed. Dismantle the central banks." - Regulation: "Deregulate. Deregulate. Deregulate. This will allow real free market solutions to appear by allowing small businesses to thrive." - Taxes: "Taxation is theft. Should we tax it? No." - Corporate power: "Put an end to modern fascism. Corporatism is using the politicians to enact their regulations to keep small businesses from prospering." - Her site's slogans are "#EndTheWars" and "#DefundTheGovernment." In her 2024 Ballotpedia survey she also called for a balanced budget, term limits, withdrawal from NATO, and a national "Defend the Guard" bill. [BP-3]

Notable public-record items

• None identified in at least two reputable outlets.

What supporters and critics say

• Supporter: In her 2024 Ballotpedia survey she listed the Libertarian Party of Minnesota and the national Libertarian Party as endorsers [BP-3]; the state party's 2026 ballot-access page says her petition drive succeeded, "virtually guaranteeing Minnesota voters a Libertarian choice in November." [LP-1]
• Critic: No published critical commentary specifically directed at Whiting's 2026 candidacy was identified in reputable outlets during this research (see Limitations).

Marisa Simonetti (Unaffiliated, by petition)

Identity & background

Born in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; age 32 as of March 2026. Earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 2024 — in psychology, per her submitted biography. Career experience in real estate; her Ballotpedia-submitted biography describes her as "a mother, businesswoman," who became involved in politics after volunteering in her son's kindergarten classroom. [BP-4][BP-1][CBS-1]

Public service / elected record

Simonetti has not held public office. She ran for Hennepin County Commission District 6 in 2024 (both the regular and special elections), losing the regular general election to incumbent Heather Edelson 67.6%–31.6%. [BP-4] She announced a U.S. Senate run initially as a Republican (KSTP; her campaign message was to "bring hope and peace back to Minnesota") and appears on the November 2026 ballot as an unaffiliated candidate by petition; her campaign site describes her as "an Independent." [KS-1][BP-1][SIM-1]

Stated platform (her campaign's framing — attributed, not asserted)

From her Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey [BP-1] and campaign website [SIM-1]: - Housing (central theme): her survey says she is "committed to tackling Minnesota's housing affordability crisis while ensuring safer communities"; nearly every issue page on her site ties back to affordable housing (rural housing investment, housing near schools, transit-oriented development, veterans' housing). - Fiscal approach: her survey says she "believes in balancing social progress with fiscal responsibility... reducing wasteful spending, supporting small businesses." - Education: her site says she will "fight for stable public school funding, expanded early childhood programs, and competitive pay for our teachers," plus vocational and technical pathways. - Healthcare: her site says she will "work to make healthcare more affordable and accessible across the board — including mental health services, addiction treatment, and reproductive care." - Energy/environment: her site supports "expanding access to solar, wind, and geothermal energy" and defending "Minnesota's water, air, and land through smart regulation." - Indian affairs: her site says she will "work with tribal leaders to uphold sovereignty, honor treaty rights." - Veterans: her site supports "funding for veterans-only housing, supportive services, and pathways to homeownership."

Notable public-record items

• Misdemeanor conviction (2024–2026), multi-outlet coverage. On June 21, 2024, Simonetti was booked into the Hennepin County jail and charged with misdemeanor fifth-degree assault after a dispute with a tenant renting the basement of her Edina home; per CBS News Minnesota's trial coverage, video evidence showed her throwing a live tarantula onto the stairs leading to the tenant's basement unit. On March 13, 2026 (verdict reported March 16), a jury found her guilty of misdemeanor domestic assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. On July 1, 2026, she was sentenced to 364 days in the Hennepin County jail with 270 days stayed (90 days to serve, four days' credit), two years of supervised probation, and $1,078 in fines and fees. (Star Tribune, June 24 and Oct. 17, 2024; CBS News Minnesota, Mar. 16, 2026; Eden Prairie Local News, July 1, 2026 — as compiled with citations on her Ballotpedia page.) [BP-4][CBS-1]

What supporters and critics say

• Supporter: Her campaign website lists individuals under "Recommended by," including former state Sen. Karin Housley and Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh (campaign-claimed; not independently verified). [SIM-1]
• Critic: No published critical commentary specifically directed at her 2026 Senate candidacy — beyond the criminal-case coverage summarized above — was identified in reputable outlets during this research (see Limitations).

Sources

Access date for all URLs: August 29, 2026, unless noted.

Race-wide - [BP-1] Ballotpedia, "United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2026" — https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_2026 (incl. candidate profiles, Simonetti Candidate Connection survey, polls, FEC campaign-finance table, race ratings, voting-information box) - [WP-1] Wikipedia, "2026 United States Senate election in Minnesota" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota - [MP-1] Radelat & Carlson, "After hard-fought primaries, it's Peggy Flanagan vs. Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate," MinnPost (Aug. 11, 2026, upd. Aug. 12) — https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2026/08/flanagan-overcomes-walz-baggage-beats-craig-dfl-senate-tafoya-gop/ - U.S. Const. art. I, §§ 3, 7; art. II, § 2; amend. XVII; senate.gov, "Powers and Procedures" — https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures.htm (cited for the office explainer)

Flanagan - [BP-2] Ballotpedia, "Peggy Flanagan" — https://ballotpedia.org/Peggy_Flanagan - [WP-2] Wikipedia, "Peggy Flanagan" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Flanagan - [FL-1] Peggy Flanagan for Minnesota, home page — https://peggyflanagan.com/ - [FL-2] Peggy Flanagan for Minnesota, "Priorities" — https://peggyflanagan.com/priorities/ - [MR-1] Nesterak, "In tight Senate race, Peggy Flanagan can't escape the f-word," Minnesota Reformer (July 28, 2026), read via syndication at KFGO — https://kfgo.com/2026/07/28/in-tight-senate-race-peggy-flanagan-cant-escape-her-proximity-to-fraud-scandals/ (original: https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/07/28/in-tight-senate-race-peggy-flanagan-cant-escape-the-f-word/) - [SJ-1] Peters, "Peggy Flanagan eyes Trump, Indian affairs in race for U.S. Senate," Sahan Journal (Aug. 14, 2026) — https://sahanjournal.com/democracy-politics/peggy-flanagan-michele-tafoya-us-senate-election-minnesota/

Tafoya - [WP-3] Wikipedia, "Michele Tafoya" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Tafoya - Ballotpedia, "Michele Tafoya" — https://ballotpedia.org/Michele_Tafoya - [TF-1] Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate, "Issues" — https://micheletafoya.com/issues/ - [TF-2] Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate, "Meet Michele" — https://micheletafoya.com/meet-michele/ - [FX-1] Fox News, "Michele Tafoya launches Minnesota Senate campaign as Republican candidate" (Jan. 21, 2026) — https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-nfl-reporter-launches-gop-senate-bid-reveals-how-she-will-flip-script-crisis-leadership - [FX-3] Fox News, "Peggy Flanagan was Minnesota's No 2 official as massive fraud scandal exploded under state's watch" — https://www.foxnews.com/politics/peggy-flanagan-minnesotas-no-2-official-massive-fraud-scandal-exploded-under-states-watch (headline/topic confirmed via search result; article body not fetched) - [OK-1] OutKick (via Fox News), "Hall of Famer Tony Dungy endorses Michele Tafoya in crowded Minnesota Republican primary for U.S. Senate" (May 2026) — https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/hall-famer-tony-dungy-endorses-michele-tafoya-crowded-minnesota-republican-primary-us-senate - [MS-1] MS NOW (Morning Joe clip), "Peggy Flanagan: Michele Tafoya would be a 'yes, sir' senator for Trump" — https://www.ms.now/morning-joe/watch/peggy-flanagan-michele-tafoya-would-be-a-yes-sir-senator-for-trump-2510863939981 (quote as surfaced in search results; clip not viewed)

Whiting - [BP-3] Ballotpedia, "Rebecca Whiting" — https://ballotpedia.org/Rebecca_Whiting (incl. her 2024 Candidate Connection survey and 2024 results) - [RW-1] Rebecca Whiting for U.S. Senate — https://whiting4senate.us/ - [LP-1] Libertarian Party of Minnesota, "Minnesota Libertarian Ballot Access 2026" — https://lpmn.org/libertarian-ballot-access/

Simonetti - [BP-4] Ballotpedia, "Marisa Simonetti" — https://ballotpedia.org/Marisa_Simonetti (incl. Noteworthy events chronology with citations to Star Tribune (6/24/24, 10/17/24), CBS Minnesota (3/16/26), Eden Prairie Local News (7/1/26)) - [SIM-1] Marisa Simonetti for U.S. Senate — https://www.marisasimonetti.com - [CBS-1] CBS News Minnesota, "Minnesota woman running for U.S. Senate found guilty in tarantula-throwing incident" (Mar. 16, 2026) — https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-woman-assault-conviction-tarantula-us-senate/ - [KS-1] KSTP, "Marisa Simonetti announces run for U.S. Senate" — https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/marisa-simonetti-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Limitations

1. sos.mn.gov not directly consulted. The Secretary of State's site is bot-blocked; the field is cross-confirmed by Ballotpedia + Wikipedia instead (and both carry Ballotpedia's standing caveat that "the candidate list in this election may not be complete"). Spot-check against "What's on my ballot" in a normal browser before publication.
2. Thin-coverage candidates. Whiting and Simonetti have little independent press coverage. Their platform sections rest on their own campaign materials and Ballotpedia surveys (attributed accordingly), and no independent supporter/critic commentary on their 2026 candidacies was found. Whiting's most substantive press item (Bemidji Pioneer, May 26, 2026) is cited in Wikipedia but was not directly retrieved.
3. Whiting service-year discrepancy. Ballotpedia's own page states her Army service as 2000–2007 (infobox) and 2004–2007 (biography); her survey describes Iraq deployments 2004–05 and 2006–07. Not resolved against a primary source.
4. Tafoya single-source items. Two Wikipedia-only items (2003 stadium incident; March 2026 disputed homelessness statistic) did not meet the two-outlet rule and are flagged, not asserted. Her Emmy count differs between Wikipedia (five) and her campaign site (four); both figures reported. Fox News describes her as a mother of two; Wikipedia mentions one adopted daughter — reported as "campaign materials reference two children."
5. Simonetti sentencing-date shift. CBS's March 16 article said sentencing was set for May 1, 2026; the sentence was actually imposed July 1, 2026 (Eden Prairie Local News via Ballotpedia). The later, outcome-bearing date is used.
6. Quotes surfaced via search summaries. The Flanagan "yes, sir" quote [MS-1] and the Fox fraud-coverage headline [FX-3] were confirmed only through search results, not full article fetches; verify before publication if load-bearing.
7. Poll sponsorship. The Deep Root Analytics poll is a Tafoya-campaign-sponsored internal and is labeled as such.
8. Equal-treatment note. Flanagan's public-record section covers state fraud cases she is not personally accused in; the section states that explicitly and confines characterizations to attributed quotes. Tafoya, Whiting, and (beyond the criminal case) Simonetti carry "none identified" entries rather than silence, so all four sections have the same structure.