Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, a Democrat, announced that she will not seek re-election in 2026, citing a desire to spend more time with family. This decision opens up a Senate seat for her party to defend as they work to regain control of the chamber next year.
Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota is reportedly considering running for the Senate seat, as well as possibly seeking a third term as governor. Other potential Democratic candidates include Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Representatives Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar, former Representative Dean Phillips, and Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul.
Smith was appointed to the Senate in 2018 after her predecessor resigned over accusations of sexual harassment. She went on to win Senate contests in 2018 and 2020. Democrats will now have to defend both Smith’s seat and the open seat in Michigan in the upcoming election.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expressed confidence that they will retain Smith’s seat in Minnesota, a state that has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2002. The Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the Senate.
Overall, Smith’s decision not to seek re-election adds another layer of complexity to the Democratic Party’s efforts to regain Senate control in the upcoming election.
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