Ag Policy Blog

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Minnesota Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, 59% to 39.4%, called by the Associated Press.

This makes Craig the third House Agriculture Committee member to lose a statewide primary while seeking a gubernatorial nomination, following Reps. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.

The primary was to replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat who also serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Flanagan will face former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, who won the Republican primary in November.

Craig said on social platform X Tuesday night that she would support Flanagan in the Senate race. "Michele Tafoya is a threat to our democracy -- it's time for Minnesota to come together and keep this seat blue," she said.

While Craig touted her electability credentials, Flanagan criticized Craig's vote for the Laken Riley Act last year that increased the authority of federal immigration officers. That swayed Democratic voters, given the conflicts in Minneapolis earlier this year that led to the deaths of two people.

The Cook Political Report -- a firm that conducts non-partisan political analysis -- rates the Minnesota Senate race as likely Democratic.

For Minnesota governor, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with 89.7% of the vote as of 2:40 a.m. EDT, as projected by AP. She will face Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth in November. The Cook Political Report rates that race as solid Democratic.

WISCONSIN

Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination for Wisconsin governor. He will face Democrat and Milwaukee County Executive, David Crowley.

With 95% of the vote counted, Crowley held 39.78%, just 0.41 percentage points ahead of state Rep. Francesca Hong.

The race tested the moderate, establishment wing of the Democratic Party against Hong's democratic socialist views, highlighting the limits of the party's progressive wing even in a state like Wisconsin.

The state's most consequential congressional race also took shape Tuesday night in the 3rd Congressional District primary.

House Agriculture Committee Member Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican, will face Democrat Rebecca Cooke, a small-business owner who narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024.

Cooke was born and raised on an Eau Claire, Wisconsin, dairy farm.

The race has gathered attention for its competitiveness and support from Trump administration officials. Trump administration officials have made 10 visits to southwestern Wisconsin, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vice President JD Vance. The majority of those visits have been farm related.

Also Tuesday in Wisconsin's 7th District, a Trump-endorsed candidate found a win.

Michael Alfonso, the son-in-law of U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, won the Republican primary in Congress.

Alfonso defeated challengers including Kevin Hermening with roughly 48% to 49% of the vote after receiving Trump's endorsement and support from conservative groups.

Duffy represented the district from 2011 to 2019 before becoming transportation secretary.

OTHER RACES

After the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Darline Graham advanced in Tuesday's Republican Senate primary in South Carolina. She will face Rep. Ralph Norman in a runoff in two weeks because no candidate received at least 50% of the vote.

On Aug. 4, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary against Rep. Haley Stevens.

The Senate seat will face Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November. The race would join Michigan's other senator, Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin in the Senate.

El-Sayed campaign was empowered by the progressive movement in Michigan and was outspent by other candidates in the race, funded by the democratic establishment.

See the election predictions of the Cook Report: https://www.cookpolitical.com/…

DTN's coverage on the Minnesota Senate Debate: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jake Zajkowski can be reached at jake.zajkowski@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @jzajkow

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