An open Minnesota Senate seat is enticing to plenty but unclear how many will take plunge
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U.S. Senate seats don’t come open all that often in Minnesota with no incumbent seeking six more years.
So it’s no surprise that Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s decision to stand aside in 2026 has touched off a flurry of activity by potential candidates. Minnesota hasn't had an open-seat Senate race since 2006, and that could put it in the national spotlight as well.
Smith announced Thursday she will retire at the end of next year to spend more time with her family. She isn’t worried about the ability of her party to find a replacement.
“I feel very good about the depth of talent that we have in Minnesota. I’m very optimistic that we'll be able to hold this seat,” Smith told MPR News in an interview. “So, I’m not one of those politicians who feels like I’m the indispensable person and I’m the only one who can do that. I’m actually excited to make room for new leaders to step into this role.”
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Smith has been a senator since 2018 after then-Gov. Mark Dayton appointed her to the seat. Smith, who was Dayton’s lieutenant governor at the time, was picked to replace Sen. Al Franken upon his resignation.
She has won two races since.
Her Democratic colleague from Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, tells MPR News she’s not picking favorites.
“I got a lot going on around here, and I think Tina’s in the same place, so we’re not going to hand pick someone for the seat,” Klobuchar said. “But there’s a very deep bench.”
DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has already said she plans to run. The governor she’s served with for two terms, Tim Walz, hasn’t ruled out a Senate bid.
There are also those figuring out how to get mentioned without appearing too eager to take the focus away from Smith so soon.
A source close to Secretary of State Steve Simon said he interested in running but will take the coming days to make that decision.
Democratic Rep. Angie Craig is being encouraged to run, someone close to her said. And Rep. Ilhan Omar is also said to be giving it a look.
If history is any guide, more people will look at joining the race than who actually run in it.
Inside the halls of the Capitol in St. Paul, lawmakers joked about being asked if they want to trade up without any intention of offering a serious reply.
“I was waiting for someone! Absolutely,” Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, cracked to one reporter. “You got the scoop!”
Minnesota was already preparing for a busy 2026 with races for governor, attorney general and every legislative seat on the ballot. Both the state House and Senate majorities could come down to a photo finish.
This open U.S. Senate seat could draw millions of dollars more into the state.
Republicans are showing optimism.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a statewide win at any level, whether it’s president or governor, but we are making progress,” said Alex Plechash, chair of the state Republican Party. “And we’re pretty darn close to actually flipping the state.”
Plechash declined to identify the top candidates. Republican Reps. Pete Stauber and Tom Emmer are both known entities — and, more important, in the good graces of President Donald Trump.
Emmer suggested on social media he’s happy where he’s at and not looking for a new job.
Royce White, the party’s 2024 nominee against Klobuchar, previously began another bid for the seat held by Smith.
State Sen. Karin Housley ran against Smith in 2018 and isn’t ruling out another run. She noted that the nearly two-year runway is far more advantageous than the months she had to wage a campaign in 2018.
“Minnesotans are center right or center left. They aren’t really far left and really far right,” Housley said. “They just want common sense representation at any level of government. So I think with how Trump did in the last election, it definitely moved the needle.”
Preya Samsundar, a Republican strategist in Minnesota who has worked on prior Senate campaigns, said 2024 is a sign her party could win next year with the right candidate.
“Donald Trump’s a perfect example, you know, came within four points of this flipping Minnesota in 2024 even with Tim Walz on the on the ticket, and I think that’s a sign that there’s a lot of dissatisfaction in the state,” she said. “It’s up to us now as a party to come forward with a candidate who can like reach that dissatisfaction.”
Smith said not running will give her the next two years to focus on her job in the Senate while the parties sort things out.
“I’m all in on this fight and the freedom I will have to be completely focused on the next two years and the work that we have ahead will be in part because I don’t have to spend time working toward an election,” Smith said.