CNN
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Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election in 2026. This is a decision that could trigger a competitive Democrat primary as the party faces a challenging Senate map next year.
“I decided not to run to be re-elected to the Senate in 2026,” Smith wrote on social media, sharing her announcement and video. “This job has been a lifelong honor. For the rest of my term, I will work as hard as I can for Minnesotan and our country.”
Smith’s exit opens the state Senate seat, which showed signs of erosion to Democrats despite Minnesota’s long blue history. Former President Joe Biden scored seven points in 2020, while former Vice President Kamala Harris scored four points. 2024. Smith won the race in 2020 with around five points.
And that follows the exit of another Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, another Michigan Democrat, who announced last month that he was not seeking re-election in 2026.
The prospect of defending two open seats in 2026, when Democrats had previously anticipated the benefits of incumbents, could strain the party’s campaign budget and threaten efforts to expand its current 47-seat minority there is. Also, both races have emerged in states that moved towards the Republican Party in 2024.
Senate Democrats’ minority leader Chuck Schumer praised Smith in a statement, predicting the party’s confidence to hold the seat.
“I will miss her leadership and friendship in the Senate, but there is no doubt that her legacy of service will continue to inspire. Minnesota has a strong bench that will keep her seat blue. I’m doing it,” Schumer said.
David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, similarly said Democrats will pledge to hold their seats, saying, “Republicans have not won the Minnesota Senate race for more than 20 years, and Democrats have 2026. I will continue to hold this seat in 2019.”
Meanwhile, Smith’s decision sparked a scramble to compete for her seat, similar to the process unfolding in Michigan following Peters’ announcement. Almost an hour after Smith’s announcement, state Democrat Middle Governor Peggy Flanagan announced his intention to launch a Senate campaign.
“I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for the US Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I will make a formal announcement later this month. In the meantime, I will be in the community and my own. He talks to his family and friends. Flanagan writes on social media.
Additionally, Minnesota’s current Democratic government, Tim Waltz, who rose to prominence as Harris’ running mate, is eligible for a third term in 2026. He told CNN on Thursday morning that he sees the potential for a third term running at his current job next year. The person told CNN that the 2024 vice presidential candidate would choose not to run anything.
Also, due to the deep democratic bench in Minnesota, there is a wide range of other prominent candidates, including several US congressmen. A spokesman for Rep. Ilhan Omar, a progressive member of the “squad” from District 5, said the lawmakers would “talk with Minnesotans about the Minnesota Senate seats and the future of Minnesota’s DFL party.” . Second District Councilman Angie Craig is also considering bidding.
The list also includes Attorney General Keith Ellison, who previously represented the vice-chairman of the District 5 and the Democratic National Committee. Similarly, former District 3 representative Dean Phillips took on a major 2024 challenge to former President Joe Biden before his decision to drop out.
Speaking to Capitol Hill reporters after her announcement on Thursday, Smith said she doesn’t like the growth area of potential successors. “It’s definitely not. This is a lot of great talent moments for the deep bench of Minnesota leadership, and you know that it’s for Minnesotan and those leaders to understand. I’m doing it,” she said.
Her decision not to be carried out in 2026 was “purely personal” and “had nothing to do with the politics of the moment,” she said.
“You know, this was a purely personal decision. I was really weighing myself like I wanted to do for the next 10 years of my life and the way I wanted to spend time. And in that frame, it was – it had nothing to do with politics at the moment, and in that sense, once I was really clear… what I wanted to approach for the next decade is , that wasn’t a difficult decision,” Smith said.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Edward Isaac Dover and Sara Ferris contributed to this report.
