Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has thrown her support behind Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the state's open Senate race, marking her first endorsement of a House or Senate candidate in the 2026 cycle. The announcement, made public on Wednesday, adds a prominent voice from the Democratic Party's establishment to Flanagan's already crowded field of progressive backers.
Flanagan, who is vying for the seat left vacant by retiring Senator Tina Smith, took to social media to express her gratitude. She highlighted Clinton's long career in public service, noting that Clinton “has spent five decades fighting for working families, dedicating her career to making the case that every child in this country deserves a fair shot.”
Clinton responded on Bluesky, urging Minnesota voters to seize the opportunity. “Minnesota, you have an opportunity to select an extraordinary person and public servant as your next U.S. senator,” she wrote. “Please take it!”
In a statement obtained by The Washington Sun, Clinton praised Flanagan's track record, saying her “career fighting for children and families, from the Children’s Defense Fund to the Lieutenant Governor’s office, and she’s delivered for them.” Clinton added that Flanagan would “be that same champion” in the Senate. Notably, Clinton herself began her career at the Children's Defense Fund, a connection she shares with Flanagan, who ran the Minnesota chapter until her 2015 election to the state House.
The endorsement also took aim at President Donald Trump, with Clinton criticizing his handling of the economy and foreign policy. “Donald Trump has made it harder for families to afford childcare, groceries and healthcare for their kids,” she said. “His tariffs and war in Iran are driving up prices, and his budget ripped healthcare and food assistance away from children so billionaires could get another tax cut.” The reference to the Iran conflict underscores the administration's growing military entanglement, which has contributed to rising gas prices.
Flanagan has already secured endorsements from a who's who of progressive lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who ran against Clinton in the 2016 primary, as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).
According to Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's election handicapping partner, Flanagan holds a commanding 84 percent probability of winning the seat against Republican Michele Tafoya, who trails with just 16 percent.
Clinton's endorsement is the latest sign of the Democratic Party's establishment rallying behind Flanagan, who is seen as a strong contender to hold the seat in a state that has trended blue in recent cycles. Her support joins that of other high-profile figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been active on the campaign trail, and former President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to appear with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed later this month. Obama has also endorsed Iowa's Josh Turek in his Senate bid.
With the midterm elections approaching, Democrats are looking to leverage these endorsements to energize their base and counter the Trump campaign's aggressive midterm push in key states. The party's strategy appears to be focusing on kitchen-table issues, as Clinton's remarks suggest, while also highlighting the administration's controversial moves on taxpayer-funded advertising and its handling of the economy and Iran.
Flanagan's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for further comment, but her rapid consolidation of progressive and establishment support signals that Democrats are coalescing behind her as the midterms draw near.
