Minnesota’s open Senate race is beginning to sharpen along familiar Democratic fault lines — and a key endorsement is underscoring the divide.
Campaign finance reform group End Citizens United has announced its support for Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan as she seeks the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan is facing Rep. Angie Craig in what is shaping up to be a closely watched primary contest.
The endorsement, first shared with The Hill, signals backing from an organization known for opposing the influence of corporate money in politics. End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller praised Flanagan’s record, arguing that she has consistently pushed policies aimed at benefiting working families. Muller highlighted Flanagan’s support for raising the minimum wage and advancing paid family and medical leave, framing her candidacy as aligned with efforts to reduce the sway of corporate political action committees.
Minnesota Democratic Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan addresses a crowd at a Biden-Harris campaign rally at the Sabathani Community Center on June 25, 2024.
Flanagan has pledged not to accept corporate PAC contributions in her Senate campaign, a decision she says reflects her desire to answer directly to Minnesota voters rather than special interests. In a statement, she said she was honored by the endorsement and reiterated that she wants to be accountable to constituents, not corporate donors.
While the endorsement fits Flanagan’s progressive positioning, it also marks a shift for End Citizens United. The group previously endorsed Craig during her past House campaigns, including her 2024 reelection bid. The change underscores the evolving dynamics of the Senate race and the ideological contrasts between the two Democrats.
Flanagan has characterized the primary as a contest between a grassroots progressive and what she describes as an “institutional, corporate Democrat.” Craig, who is generally viewed as more centrist, has received donations from corporate PACs, including those tied to major financial and health care companies. Flanagan has used those contributions to argue that Craig is more closely aligned with corporate interests.
Craig, however, has pushed back, suggesting that Flanagan’s stance on corporate money is not as clear-cut as presented. Critics have pointed to Flanagan’s previous role as chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, an organization that raised millions of dollars, including funds from corporate donors. Because the association supports candidates in various races, some have argued that corporate money could have indirectly aided Flanagan’s political efforts.
Flanagan has dismissed those comparisons, drawing a distinction between fundraising for a national organization and her personal Senate campaign. She has maintained that her refusal to accept corporate PAC money as an individual candidate is a meaningful and deliberate choice.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan stands in front of the American flag, the Minnesota state flag, and the White Earth Nation tribal flag.
As the primary unfolds, the debate over campaign finance is likely to remain central. For Flanagan, the endorsement from End Citizens United bolsters her message that she represents a break from corporate influence. For Craig, it presents another front in a race where questions of electability, ideology and political alliances are already taking shape.
With Sen. Smith stepping aside, Minnesota Democrats now face a choice that could define not only the party’s direction in the state, but also how it positions itself on the role of money in politics.
