NBC News reports that Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has secured the Democratic primary victory for Senate in Minnesota, marking a significant step for the progressive wing of the party. Flanagan defeated moderate Representative Angie Craig, a longtime opponent of Flanagan’s policies, in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, who had endorsed Flanagan and progressive leaders including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The lieutenant governor would be the first Native American woman in the Senate if she is elected in November, a historic moment for the nation’s political landscape. Flanagan’s victory comes amidst a heated debate over immigration, which became a central dividing line of the primary campaign. Craig and her allies spent nearly $20 million on radio advertising, while Flanagan and her allies spent $4.7 million, according to AdImpact. Craig disputed Flanagan’s stance on President Donald Trump’s administration, alleging that the administration had spent nearly $20 million on airwaves while Flanagan and her allies spent $4.7 million, a significant contrast in campaign spending. Flanagan, during a recent NBC News ‘Meet the Press Now’ interview, stated, “I’m running to ensure that people can afford the lives they want to live. I want to get big money out of our politics, and I want to fight for things like Medicare for all so that people aren’t just paying for health insurance, but actually have access to health care.”
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Source: NBC News
