Minnesota Senate Election 2026
Tina Smith (DFL) is retiring. Rating: Lean D.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peggy Flanagan | Democratic | Lieutenant governor |
| Michele Tafoya | Republican | Former sportscaster |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Peggy Flanagan | Michele Tafoya |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2026 | Trafalgar (R) | 48% | 45% |
| October 15, 2026 | KSTP/SurveyUSA | 45% | 42% |
| October 12, 2026 | Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon | 47% | 43% |
| October 9, 2026 | Morning Consult | 45% | 41% |
| October 9, 2026 | Rasmussen (R) | 48% | 45% |
| October 2, 2026 | Big Data Poll (R) | 46% | 44% |
Average of the 6 most recent polls: Peggy Flanagan 46.5%, Michele Tafoya 43.3%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Peggy Flanagan (D)
- Calls health care a human right and will fight for Medicare for All. (2026) source
- Wants to reverse the damage from Trump's tariffs. (2026) source
- Supports wind and solar and holding companies to environmental standards. (2026) source
- Supports Ukraine and rebuilding ties with NATO allies. (2026) source
- A first-time gun owner who supports common-sense gun laws. (2024) source
- Would raise the Social Security income cap. (2026) source
Michele Tafoya (R)
- Describes herself as a pro-choice Republican. (2026) source
- Says immigrants convicted of fraud must be deported; opposes abolishing ICE. (2026) source
- Opposes handing health care to government bureaucrats. (2026) source
- Wants Congress to spend less, borrow less and tax less. (2026) source
- Wants to keep transgender women out of women's sports and locker rooms. (2026) source
Sources
- 2026 United States Senate elections (Wikipedia)
- Latest Senate polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report Senate ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Cook Political Report Senate overview: South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.