The Minnesota Senate race has narrowed to a single point, according to a new Insider Advantage poll conducted September 28-29. Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan leads Republican nominee Michele Tafoya, a former sportscaster, 46% to 45%, with Rebecca Whiting at 2% and Marisa Simonetti at 1%.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican to the Senate since Norm Coleman, who served from January 2003 to January 2009. Democrats have historically dominated statewide races in Minnesota, and midterm years typically favor the party out of the White House. Despite that history, polling in the race has consistently shown Tafoya trailing Flanagan by low single digits, with several surveys showing a dead heat or a gap within the margin of error.
After the latest numbers came out, Tafoya posted a short message urging supporters to vote: “35 days. Go vote, Minnesota!”
Fraud Scandals and Flanagan’s Record Under Scrutiny
Tafoya has focused part of her campaign on fraud scandals that occurred in Minnesota during the administration of Gov. Tim Walz and Flanagan. Asked directly about her share of responsibility, Flanagan gave ground in an interview, saying: “The governor says the buck stops with him. More should have been sooner. And I agree.”
Flanagan has also faced criticism over past statements and actions, including her celebration of the commuted sentence of Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of murdering two federal agents, and her acknowledgment that she took part in a protest that led to 21 officers being injured, saying afterward she would do it again. She has also been photographed wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” T-shirt featuring an image of a knife, and has spoken publicly in support of gender transition access for minors.
Tafoya laid out her campaign case directly to Minnesota voters in an opinion piece published Tuesday by the Duluth News Tribune.
A Similar Dynamic in Georgia
A comparable race is unfolding in Georgia’s gubernatorial contest, where Republican businessman Rick Jackson has closed the gap on Democratic nominee and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Jackson, also a political newcomer, has focused his campaign on Bottoms’ record and past statements from her time as mayor.
Both Tafoya and Jackson lack lengthy political records for opponents to attack, a fact that has left Flanagan and Bottoms leaning on scrutiny of their rivals’ public and social media histories rather than defending their own records.
With roughly five weeks remaining before Election Day, both races remain within striking distance for the Republican challengers.
