What to know about the US primary election in Minnesota

Minnesota Democrats will decide a competitive US Senate primary in another face-off between moderate and progressive candidates that could define the party’s identity heading into the midterm elections.

Immigration has emerged as a defining issue in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday in the Midwestern state of Minnesota for the United States Senate, as establishment-backed Representative Angie Craig and more leftist Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan offer competing visions for how Democrats should respond to US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Craig, who has a record of winning competitive races, has faced criticism after voting for a law that was part of Trump’s crackdown. She has since said she regrets the vote.

Flanagan has drawn support from prominent progressive Democrats, including Representative Ilhan Omar , who endorsed her campaign. Omar is also running to retain her House seat in District 5.

From late 2025 through early 2026, federal immigration agents were stationed throughout Minneapolis as part of a Trump administration deportation campaign. The operation drew demonstrators, causing clashes with city residents. In January, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal officers, provoking a nationwide backlash to the administration’s immigration policies. Craig and Flanagan have slammed the Trump administration for the operation in the state. In Congress, Craig introduced articles of impeachment against then-US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Polls are open from 7am CT (12pm GMT) and close at 8pm CT (1am GMT).

Craig and Flanagan are competing for the Democratic nomination in an open-seat race after Senator Tina Smith announced she would not seek re-election. Smith is backing Flanagan.

Craig flipped a Republican-held congressional seat in 2018, and every two years she overcame millions of dollars of attack ads to win tough re-election campaigns. Craig was one of the House Democrats to call for then-US President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race after his debate against Trump. Craig’s key supporters are Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.