Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate
Democrat Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota’s Senate race, defeating Republican Michele Tafoya.
November 4, 2026 · Updated Nov 4, 2:05am ET
Joe.My.God.Democrat Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate Race
CBS NewsPeggy Flanagan wins Minnesota 2026 Senate election, CBS News projects
New York PostPeggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate race over Michele Tafoya
The New York TimesHaaland and Flanagan, Two Native American Women, Break Political Barriers
NBC NewsLt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan holds a Minnesota Senate seat for Democrats
FOX NewsTrump-backed ex-NFL reporter loses Senate race to progressive who vowed to 'rip ICE apart'
HuffPostProgressive Peggy Flanagan Will Make History As An Indigenous Woman In The Senate
Washington Free BeaconWalz’s Wingwoman Peggy Flanagan Prevails in Minnesota Senate Race
New RepublicDemocrats Send First Native Woman to Senate as They Win Another Seat
Breitbart NewsDemocrat Peggy Flanagan Beats Michele Tafoya for Minnesota Senate Seat
The Post MillennialBREAKING: Dem Peggy Flanagan defeats Michele Tafoya for Senate seat in Minnesota
42%
Left · 5
16%
Center · 2
42%
Right · 5
Pano rates the coverage Balanced.
What happened
Updated Nov 4, 2:05am ET- Democrat Peggy Flanagan
Peggy FlanaganLieutenant Governor of Minnesota since 2019 defeated Republican Michele Tafoya
Michele TafoyaAmerican former sports broadcaster (born 1964) in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, keeping retiring Sen. Tina Smith
Tina SmithUnited States Senator from Minnesota’s seat in Democratic hands. - Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and a member of the White Earth NationWhite Earth Band of OjibweNative American band in Minnesota, USA, will become the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.
- Flanagan defeated a more moderate Democrat in the primary and supports Medicare for All, national paid family leave and dismantling ICE.
- Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster backed by President Donald Trump, argued that Flanagan should be held accountable for public-benefits fraud during Gov. Tim Walz’s administration.
- With about 80% of ballots counted, Flanagan led Tafoya roughly 54% to 44%, leaving the final margin unresolved.
How the left told it
Left-leaning outlets emphasized Flanagan’s historic election, with several also highlighting a progressive victory. The New York Times described Native women breaking “political barriers,” while HuffPost highlighted the first Indigenous woman elected to the Senate. Joe.My.God. also emphasized the result as a win for the party’s progressive wing.
How the right told it
Right-leaning outlets largely framed the result around Republicans’ missed opportunity amid scrutiny of Minnesota’s fraud scandals. The New York Post called it a “setback for Republicans,” while the Washington Free Beacon labeled Flanagan “Walz’s Wingwoman.” Fox News also stressed her progressive agenda and vow to “rip ICE apart.”
