With Sen. Tina Smith (D) having announced this month that she won’t seek re-election in 2026, her potential successors are lining up fast — on both sides of the political aisle.
Here’s a look at everyone who’s announced their candidacy, and everyone who’s reported to be considering a run, so far.
Related: Sen. Tina Smith calls Elon Musk a ‘d***’ over his latest federal worker firing threat
Definitely running
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D)
Within a day of Smith’s retirement announcement, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan revealed her intention to run for Smith’s up-for-grabs Senate seat.
Her quick announcement came amid reported tensions between her and Walz — a rumored contender for the Senate spot himself — following his stint as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
When Walz and Flanagan were elected in 2018, Flanagan became the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Minnesota, and the highest ranking Native American woman elected to office in the U.S.
ABC/PBS
Adam Schwarze (R)
A former Navy SEAL and Marine infantryman, Schwarze has formally announced his 2026 candidacy.
Royce White (R)
Shortly after his loss to Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the 2024 Senate race, Royce White, a former NBA player, announced that he’d take on Tina Smith in 2026. Following her announcement, he responded on X with the following:
Considering running
Rep. Angie Craig (D)
Craig, who represents Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district, confirmed she’s weighing a run via a tweet on X.
A moderate Democrat, Craig is a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee.
State Sen. Julia Coleman (R)
Representing Minnesota Senate District 48, Sen. Julia Coleman is considering throwing her hat in the ring, per CBS News.
Sen. Karin Housley (R)
Housley, who challenged Smith in the 2018 special election for Al Franken’s vacated seat, has not ruled out another run.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D)
Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, is mulling a run. A spokesman told Axios that Omar, a member of “The Squad” whose comments about Israel and Palestine have stirred controversy in the past, “will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of Tina’s senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota.”
Other rumored candidates, per various media reports, include: CD-3 Rep. Kelly Morrison (D), State Rep. Kristin Robbins (R), Secretary of State Steve Simon (D)
‘Reportedly considering’
Gov. Tim Walz (D)
After taking the national stage as Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential running mate, Walz is considering a run, “a person close to the governor” told Politico the day of Smith’s announcement.
Gov. Tim Walz speaks in Bloomington, Minn. on Aug. 1, 2024. Photo courtesy of Office of Governor Tim Walz via Flickr.
Not running
– Former Sen. Al Franken (D)
– Former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger (D)
– Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R)
– Former Rep. Dean Phillips (D)
– Rep. Pete Stauber (R)
