2026 Minnesota Senatorial race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Tina Smith: Stop Comstock Act from preventing mailing abortion material.     David Hann: State has the most extreme abortion bill in the world.     Michele Tafoya: I'm not going to BS you; I'm a pro-choice Republican.

Budget & Economy     David Hann: Fraud, waste and abuse raise taxes and fuel inflation.

Civil Rights     Peggy Flanagan: Helped found People of Color and Indigenous Caucus.     Peggy Flanagan: Fight discrimination against the LGBTQ2S+ community.     Michele Tafoya: Keep men out of women's sports and locker rooms.

Crime     Angie Craig: Double fines for fraud related to child nutrition programs.     Michele Tafoya: Will fight for tougher penalties, safer neighborhoods.

Drugs     Angie Craig: Hold social media companies accountable for drug sales.     Tina Smith: Remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.     Angie Craig: Wasted hundred of billions enforcing antiquated drug laws.

Education     David Hann: Spent billions on education; it's gotten worse.     Michele Tafoya: Restore parents' say in schools, increase transparency.

Energy & Oil     Royce White: Energy security helps our nation function more reliably.     Royce White: We pay a price for not being energy independent.     Peggy Flanagan: Supports clean energy solutions like wind and solar.     Michele Tafoya: Supports all-of-the-above affordable energy.

Environment     Angie Craig: EPA should update standards for homegrown biofuels.     Peggy Flanagan: Hold companies accountable for environmental standards.

Families & Children     Angie Craig: First openly LGBTQ mother and grandmother in Congress.     Peggy Flanagan: Proud state enacted free meals for school children.     Royce White: Educated women are more likely to divorce men.

Foreign Policy     Angie Craig: I will work to strengthen our relationship with Israel.     Tina Smith: Voted for partial arms embargo on Israel.     David Hann: Praises capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.     Peggy Flanagan: Rebuild ties with NATO allies, support Ukraine.

Free Trade     Tina Smith: Farmers worried about losing their access to markets.     Angie Craig: Tariffs are killing my bean and corn producers right now.     Michele Tafoya: Don't get into hypotheticals on legality of tariffs.     Peggy Flanagan: Reverse the damage caused by Trump's tariffs.

Government Reform     Peggy Flanagan: Campaign is powered by people, not corporate checks.     Royce White: Go to a single-day, paper ballot, personal ID requirement.     Angie Craig: Require carbon monoxide detectors in every hotel room.     Royce White: Supports single-day; paper ballot; personal ID requirement .     Michele Tafoya: Protect democracy with voter ID and paper ballots.

Gun Control     Royce White: Never infringe on 2nd Amendment; it safeguards freedoms.     Peggy Flanagan: First time gun owner, supports common sense gun laws.     Royce White: 2nd amendment safeguards the freedoms of citizens.

Health Care     Peggy Flanagan: Healthcare is a human right, will fight for Medicare for All.     Michele Tafoya: Don't hand healthcare to faceless government bureaucrats.

Homeland Security     Angie Craig: Strengthen the benefits we owe our servicemembers.     Peggy Flanagan: Deliver robust, accessible, and quality care for veterans.

Immigration     David Hann: Encourage constructive immigration, not criminal activity.     Michele Tafoya: Any immigrant convicted of fraud must be deported.     Michele Tafoya: Fight tooth and nail against campaign to abolish ICE.

Jobs     Angie Craig: Reintroduced Protecting the Right to Organize Act.     Michele Tafoya: Women can play a broad range of roles in the NFL universe.

Principles & Values     Royce White: What's wrong with taking care of Americans first?     Royce White: We must take a stand for God, Family, and Country.     Peggy Flanagan: Tribal name means 'speaks in a loud and clear voice woman'.     David Hann: Trump makes our country safer, stronger, more prosperous.     Peggy Flanagan: Rightwing backlash for wearing hijab during mosque visit.     Michele Tafoya: Four-time Emmy Award-winning sports reporter.     Michele Tafoya: I knew God was leading me in a certain direction.

Social Security     Tina Smith: Allow public servants to get full Social Security payments.     Angie Craig: We need to keep Medicare and Social Security fully funded.     Peggy Flanagan: Eliminate tax on Social Security; expand income cap.

Tax Reform     Royce White: I want to cut taxes for as many Americans as possible.     David Hann: Democrats don't talk tax relief, talk about tax increases.     Michele Tafoya: Make Congress spend less; borrow less; tax less.

Technology     Royce White: Big tech and social media companies must be broken up.

War & Peace     Michele Tafoya: Be patriots about Iran war: maybe one less trip to Starbucks.

Welfare & Poverty     Peggy Flanagan: Peggy's childhood home from Section 8 housing voucher.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Angie Craig Democratic Challenger Minnesota David Hann Republican Challenger Minnesota Michele Tafoya Republican Challenger Minnesota Peggy Flanagan Democratic Challenger Minnesota Royce White Republican Challenger Minnesota Tina Smith Minnesota Democratic Minnesota Lieutenant Governor