Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has waded into the 2026 midterm battles with her first endorsement of a House or Senate candidate, throwing her support behind Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the state's open Senate race. The announcement, made Wednesday, adds a heavyweight voice from the Democratic Party's past to a contest that could help determine control of the upper chamber.
Flanagan, who is seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith, responded on social media, saying she was "honored" to have Clinton's backing. She praised Clinton for having "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, in turn, took to Bluesky to urge Minnesota voters to seize the opportunity, writing, "Minnesota, you have an opportunity to select an extraordinary person and public servant as your next U.S. senator. Please take it!"
The endorsement comes with a pointed critique of President Trump's record, particularly on the economy and foreign policy. Clinton accused Trump of making it harder for families to afford basics, saying, "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 U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran reflects a broader Democratic line of attack as gas prices climb, a theme that has also surfaced in criticism of the GOP's midterm message.
Clinton's statement, first reported by The Huffington Post and obtained by The Washington Sun, highlighted Flanagan's career, noting her work with the Children's Defense Fund — an organization Clinton herself worked for early in her career. Flanagan led the Minnesota chapter of the group until 2015, when she was elected to the state House. Clinton said Flanagan had "delivered" for children and families and would "be that same champion" in the Senate.
Flanagan has already amassed a broad coalition of progressive endorsements, including from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who ran against Clinton for the 2016 Democratic nomination, as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). The support underscores her standing as the consensus choice among the party's left flank.
Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's election handicapper, projects Flanagan has an 84 percent probability of winning the race against Republican Michele Tafoya, a former radio host and one-time state official. That forecast suggests the seat is likely to remain in Democratic hands, but the endorsement signals the party is not taking any chances in a cycle where Trump is actively campaigning across the country.
Clinton's move is part of a broader trend of high-profile Democrats stepping into races. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed a slate of candidates and last month campaigned with Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed. Former President Barack Obama is also set to join El-Sayed on the trail in Detroit later this month, and has backed other candidates, including Iowa Senate nominee Josh Turek. The influx of party luminaries reflects the high stakes of the midterms, as Democrats seek to reclaim the House and Senate.
For Clinton, the endorsement marks a return to the political fray after a period of relative quiet, though she recently made headlines for a lighter moment — reviving her saxophone playing at a tribute for Vaclav Havel. But her message on Flanagan is squarely focused on the future, urging voters to send a proven advocate for families to Washington.
As the campaign season heats up, Flanagan's team is likely to leverage Clinton's endorsement to energize donors and grassroots supporters. With the Democratic primary behind her, Flanagan now faces Tafoya in what is expected to be a competitive general election, though current polling and handicapping favor the Democrat. Clinton's backing could provide a final boost in a race that national Democrats view as a key piece of their path to a majority.
