Tina Smith, a prominent Minnesota Democrat, has thrown her support behind Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the Senate primary. The endorsement from the U.S. Senator and former governor comes as Republicans seek to make the seat competitive in the midterm elections.
Flanagan, viewed as more progressive than Representative Angie Craig, is now favored by polls and is seen as a key candidate for Democrats in the general election. However, experts point out that her positioning herself as more progressive may not benefit her in the more conservative parts of the state.
The endorsement has given Flanagan an added boost, with Smith stating that she would be "deeply honored" to carry on her work in the Senate. The lieutenant governor's support is seen as a significant advantage for Flanagan, who previously had the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders and former Governor Al Franken.
Meanwhile, Craig's campaign has responded by highlighting her own strengths as a fighter who can take on tough races against Republicans. Her supporters argue that she is the only candidate with experience in competitive races and has shown her ability to stand up to the Trump administration.
As the primary approaches, forecasters give Democrats an advantage, classifying the race as Likely Democratic. However, experts caution that Flanagan's positioning herself as more progressive may pose a challenge in rural areas of the state.
The endorsement from Smith comes at a time when Minnesota has become a hub for immigration enforcement, with recent incidents drawing national attention. The ICE surge has galvanized Democratic support and alienated swing voters from the GOP, which could impact the general election.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. However, publications like Newsweek strive to maintain a distinct approach that prioritizes fact-based journalism over factional politics. By supporting courageous and nuanced reporting, readers can help keep the center strong and vibrant.
Flanagan, viewed as more progressive than Representative Angie Craig, is now favored by polls and is seen as a key candidate for Democrats in the general election. However, experts point out that her positioning herself as more progressive may not benefit her in the more conservative parts of the state.
The endorsement has given Flanagan an added boost, with Smith stating that she would be "deeply honored" to carry on her work in the Senate. The lieutenant governor's support is seen as a significant advantage for Flanagan, who previously had the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders and former Governor Al Franken.
Meanwhile, Craig's campaign has responded by highlighting her own strengths as a fighter who can take on tough races against Republicans. Her supporters argue that she is the only candidate with experience in competitive races and has shown her ability to stand up to the Trump administration.
As the primary approaches, forecasters give Democrats an advantage, classifying the race as Likely Democratic. However, experts caution that Flanagan's positioning herself as more progressive may pose a challenge in rural areas of the state.
The endorsement from Smith comes at a time when Minnesota has become a hub for immigration enforcement, with recent incidents drawing national attention. The ICE surge has galvanized Democratic support and alienated swing voters from the GOP, which could impact the general election.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. However, publications like Newsweek strive to maintain a distinct approach that prioritizes fact-based journalism over factional politics. By supporting courageous and nuanced reporting, readers can help keep the center strong and vibrant.
. She seems more progressive than Angie Craig, but what if that alienates her in more conservative areas of the state? 
I mean, I get why Republicans want to make this seat competitive, but at the end of the day, it's all about who can best represent Minnesotans 
. And with immigration enforcement being a major issue right now, Flanagan's stance on that might just be her strength 
. But will it be enough? 
. It's like, you gotta appeal to both sides, ya know? 
I'm all for a more progressive candidate, but if she can't win over those swing voters, it might not be as cut-and-dried as everyone thinks 
. Tina Smith is giving her endorsement to Peggy Flanagan because she believes in her vision, even if that means taking a risk on someone who might be more challenging to win over in rural areas 
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. But at the same time, Flanagan is being bold by positioning herself as more progressive, which could actually be a strength in winning over young voters and urban areas 
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- Peggy Flanagan just got an endorsement from Tina Smith and now she's basically guaranteed the Senate seat... but like, is it really worth being more progressive in a state that's already shifting left? 
Newsweek is my fave btw 
we need more people like Flanagan who can bring ppl together. and btw, what's with all the hate on Craig? she's got experience & knows how to fight 
... it feels like we're just gonna end up with more division 
. Can't they all just agree on what's good for the state? 
. And what's with the ICE surge? Can't we just focus on welcoming immigrants rather than enforcing borders? 
. Maybe publications like Newsweek can help remind us that there's more to politics than just left or right 
...
It's awesome to see a strong female leader like Flanagan getting the support she needs. As someone who's all about mindfulness and staying present, I think it's great that Flanagan is taking a progressive stance - it's gonna be super inspiring for people in Minnesota 
. It's like, Minnesota has become a bit of a battleground over this issue and it's gonna be huge for whoever wins the primary. And honestly, I'm kinda glad that publications like Newsweek are still pushing for fact-based journalism – we could use more of that in these crazy times 
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she's gonna kill it in this primary and take on those republicans 
maybe it's time to rethink what "centrist" even means in politics 
. While Flanagan's progressive stance may be a blessing in urban areas, it's essential to acknowledge that her positioning herself as more liberal might prove problematic in rural Minnesota 
. The state's shifting demographics and growing concerns about immigration enforcement could make it challenging for Flanagan to appeal to conservative voters.
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. By maintaining a level-headed approach, readers can stay informed about the issues that matter most and make more informed decisions at the polls 
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. What really got me thinking, though, was the bit about how the center getting dismissed as bland isn't always true 
and it's like $200 lol how do ppl afford them? anyway, so this tina smith thingy is going on and its kinda weird that she endorsed peggy flanagan... i mean i guess its cool for flanagan but what about craig? her campaign seems pretty strong 
. I'm not saying Flanagan's wrong to take a stance, but if she's so progressive, shouldn't she be working with Republicans to find common ground instead of pitting people against each other?
. She's already shown that she can hold her own against tough opponents, and who knows, maybe her "fighter" vibe will resonate with voters in a way that Flanagan's won't