Minnesota Senate
Tina Smith (D) is not running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it leaning Democratic.
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Peggy Flanagan
Democrat · lieutenant governor of minnesota, former state representative
FLiberty Score F39 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Flanagan has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Flanagan.
Michele Tafoya
Republican · former nfl sideline reporter, podcast host
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Tafoya has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Tafoya.
Raised $12,501,786 since January 2025: 89% from people, 8% transfers and other income, 3% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Michele Tafoya. Michele Tafoya: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Peggy Flanagan: F, 39 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Minnesota: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Peggy Flanagan, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Flanagan, so the grade above comes from this list: what Flanagan has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Her campaign site says she would have voted with Senators Smith and Klobuchar to halt offensive weapons sales to Israel.
“Peggy would have joined Minnesota Senators Smith and Klobuchar in voting to halt offensive weapons sales to Israel”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Cutting off weapons to Israel is against liberty on free nations.
-
Her campaign site backs rebuilding ties with NATO allies and supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
“supporting Ukraine in their fight against an unjust invasion by Putin.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Ukraine against Putin and backing NATO is with liberty on free nations.
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Said at the 16 October 2026 debate that she would not support more offensive weapons or military aid to Israel under its current prime minister.
“Right now I would not support additional offensive weapons or military aid to Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Conditioning or cutting weapons to Israel is against backing a democracy under attack.
-
Her campaign site says she believes in free speech and freedom of assembly.
“Peggy believes in the right to free speech and the freedom of assembly and will fight to uphold every American's constitutional right to self-expression.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A general statement for free speech with no policy on censorship named does not settle the measure.
-
In a voter guide questionnaire she listed Medicare for All as her second priority.
“Second, I'll fight for Medicare for All because in the richest country on earth health care should be a human right.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
-
Her campaign site backs raising the income cap on Social Security contributions.
“By expanding the income cap and source for contributions, Social Security will continue to provide benefits seniors can count on for decades to come.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Raising the payroll tax cap is a higher tax, against liberty on free markets.
-
Her campaign site supports eliminating the tariffs that hurt Minnesota farmers.
“Peggy supports eliminating tariffs that are devastating Minnesota farmers”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Broad tariffs are against liberty on free markets, so removing them is on the with side.
-
Said at the 2026 Senate debate that no tax on tips is an important part of the federal tax bill.
“There are pieces of the Big, Beautiful Bill, or the Big, Ugly Bill, that I think are important, like no tax on tips.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut (no tax on tips) is on the side of lower taxes.
-
Her campaign site says she will fight to pass the Equality Act so that no one, including the LGBTQ community, can be discriminated against.
“Peggy will fight to pass the Equality Act so no one, including the LGBTQ2S+ community, can be discriminated against.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Equal protection for gay people under the same law is with liberty on equal rights; the line names no sport, prison or school rule.
-
In a voter guide questionnaire she called for a pathway to legal status and citizenship for immigrants who have settled in the country.
“create a pathway to legal status and citizenship for people who have built their lives, families, and businesses here.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for those here illegally is against liberty on borders.
-
Her campaign site says ICE should be dismantled and the immigration system reimagined.
“Peggy believes that ICE is out of control and that we must dismantle the agency and reimagine an immigration system rooted in dignity, safety, and due process for all.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Abolishing ICE is against liberty on borders.
-
Her campaign site says the country must have a strong and secure border that still welcomes newcomers.
“We must have a strong and secure border, but Peggy is clear that a strong border should not keep us from welcoming new people to the United States.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A secure border with no enforcement policy named does not settle the measure on its own.
Michele Tafoya, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Tafoya, so the grade above comes from this list: what Tafoya has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Said she stands with Israel and called describing its war as genocide a misrepresentation.
“I know so many Orthodox and everyday Jews who are livid at the word genocide, and so I stand with Israel.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Standing with Israel and rejecting the genocide charge is on the with side.
-
In an interview she said government is too involved in health care and opposed Medicare for All.
“Government is too much involved in this. So Peggy Flanagan's side wants to give the government total control, Medicare for All.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government-run health care for all is with liberty on free markets.
-
In a voter guide questionnaire she pledged to cut federal regulations on small businesses.
“I'll fight to cut the costly federal regulations that strangle small businesses, discourage hiring, and raise prices on everything.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Less regulation is with liberty on free markets.
-
Her campaign site pledges to oppose any tax increase on the middle class and to protect the recent tax cuts.
“As our Senator, Michele will oppose any tax increase on the middle class and stand up for us, not the IRS.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Opposing tax increases with no tax named does not settle the free markets test.
-
Her campaign site pledges to keep men out of women's sports and locker rooms.
“As our Senator, Michele will protect Minnesota kids from insane ideologies and keep men out of women's sports and locker rooms.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
-
In an interview she said she disagreed with how the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota was rolled out, while backing cooperation with ICE.
“I do not agree with the way that Metro Surge was rolled out. I don't. I'm not gonna agree with my party on everything.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Criticising how one operation was carried out, with no policy named, does not settle the measure.
-
In a voter guide questionnaire she pledged to secure the southern border, enforce immigration law, end catch and release, and oppose amnesty.
“I will fight to secure our southern border, enforce our immigration laws, and end catch-and-release. I do not support amnesty.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border, ending catch and release and refusing amnesty are with liberty on borders.
-
Her campaign site pledges to fight efforts to abolish ICE and reopen the borders.
“As our Senator, Michele will fight tooth and nail against the far left's campaign to abolish ICE and reopen America's borders.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing the abolition of ICE and securing the border is with liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Marisa Simonetti (Independent), Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Discussion
Minnesota Senate
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