Frustration over a fraud scandal narrows Minnesota's open Senate race between Peggy Flanagan and Michele Tafoya

Summary

Frustration with a sprawling fraud scandal has cut Democrat Peggy Flanagan's poll lead in Minnesota's open US Senate race, which is closer than expected in a state where Republicans have not won a statewide election since 2006. Flanagan, the state's Democratic lieutenant governor, would be the first Native American woman to serve in the US Senate if she wins. Her Republican opponent, former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya, could win a first statewide election for Republicans in 20 years. The Cook Political Report this week shifted its rating of the race from likely Democrat to lean Democrat.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   22 Oct 2026, 10:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that frustration with a sprawling fraud scandal has cut Peggy Flanagan's poll lead in Minnesota's open Senate race, which it describes as closer than expected, and that the Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the race this week from likely Democrat to lean Democrat.