Angie Craig announces Senate run, leaving her House seat vulnerable
- Angie Craig has announced her candidacy for the Senate to fill the seat vacated by Tina Smith.
- She has significant financial backing with over $1.2 million raised for her campaign.
- Craig's decision creates a competitive race for her current House seat, which Republicans are now targeting.
In February, Minnesota's Senator Tina Smith announced her decision not to seek re-election, prompting Democratic contenders to vie for the open Senate seat. Angie Craig, a U.S. Representative, declared her Senate candidacy on a Tuesday, positioning herself as a fierce opponent of the current Republican administration and characterizing her campaign as a fight for freedom and rights. Craig, who has a strong financial background with $1.2 million raised in her House campaign’s first quarter, outlined her intent to address what she perceives as chaos and corruption in Washington. Meanwhile, this decision from Craig raises the stakes for her seat, representing Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, which has shifted increasingly toward the Democratic leaning in recent years, although it remains a competitive battleground for Republicans seeking to reclaim it. Other Democrats in the race include Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former state Senator Melisa López Franzen, both of whom have begun their campaigns to secure endorsements and financial support. Craig's announcement and financial advantages position her as a leading Democratic candidate in the Senate race, complicating the landscape of the House seat she vacates, which GOP figures now see as an open opportunity to gain ground in the coming elections.