DFL’s Senate Fight: Craig’s Cash vs. Flanagan’s Coalition
Money vs. movement: Minnesota’s marquee primary is shaping up as a test of what wins in modern Democratic politics
The Big Picture
Minnesota’s DFL Senate primary has quickly become one of the most closely watched intra-party battles in the country — and another proxy fight between the party’s moderate and progressive wings.
At the center of that fight is Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN02), a battle-tested pragmatist from one of the country’s most competitive congressional districts, and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a progressive with deep ties to grassroots activists.
This isn’t just about replacing retiring Sen. Tina Smith — it’s about which political formula Democrats believe wins in 2026 and beyond.
Fundraising Race - Advantage Craig
With respect to fundraising, Rep. Craig has held a decisive advantage through this point in the race. The figures below illustrate the current state of the fundraising race based on the latest campaign finance reports.
Amount Raised
Rep. Angie Craig - $7 million
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan - $3.3 million
Cash on Hand
Rep. Angie Craig - $3.7 million
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan - $810,000
At this stage of the raise, Craig’s cash on hand advantage is especially striking given that Craig had more than four times as much cash on hand as Flanagan. This fundraising disparity has important strategic political implications.
Craig’s financial edge positions her to shape the race on her terms. With significantly more resources, Craig will have the ability to define Flanagan (and herself) early, dominate paid media, and scale a statewide operation more quickly.
Political Endorsements Race - Advantage Flanagan (but close)
If fundraising shows who can compete, endorsements show who each candidate is building their campaign around — and in this race, the contrast remains clear, but more competitive than it may first appear.
Flanagan has consolidated much of the national progressive ecosystem. Backing from Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Pramila Jayapal signals more than ideological alignment — it connects her campaign to a national donor, volunteer, and messaging infrastructure built around economic populism and structural reform. Add support from figures like Deb Haaland, and Flanagan’s coalition expands to include Native leadership and environmental justice advocates, reinforcing her appeal across key progressive constituencies.
At the state level, endorsements from leaders like Keith Ellison and Al Franken further cement her position as the candidate of the DFL’s activist-aligned wing — particularly among party regulars engaged in issue advocacy.
Craig’s endorsement profile, however, is more robust than a traditional “institutional” lane alone. She has secured backing from top-tier national Democratic figures, including Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries, and Pete Buttigieg, along with support from multiple U.S. Senators such as Tammy Baldwin, Andy Kim, Ruben Gallego, Jacky Rosen, and Catherine Cortez Masto. Taken together, these endorsements signal strong alignment with the party’s governing wing and national leadership class — particularly those focused on holding and expanding Democratic majorities.
Craig also holds a notable advantage with labor, securing endorsements from roughly 14 labor organizations compared to Flanagan’s 5. That gap suggests meaningful strength among institutional labor stakeholders, particularly those prioritizing job creation, infrastructure investment, and candidates viewed as viable in competitive general election environments.
Between the lines:
Flanagan’s endorsements reflect a movement-first coalition — energized, nationalized, and ideologically cohesive.
Craig’s endorsements reflect a governing coalition with growing institutional depth — spanning national party leadership, elected officials, and organized labor.
Endorsements in this race aren’t just about validation — they’re a preview of the two competing DFL coalitions. Flanagan is building from the base outward, anchored in activists and national progressives. Craig is building from the middle outward, increasingly backed by party leadership, labor institutions, and elected officials focused on governing and electability.
The result: what once looked like a clear endorsement advantage for Flanagan is now better understood as a split field — movement energy vs. institutional alignment — with each candidate holding distinct, and politically meaningful, lanes.
Bottom Line
This race is shaping up as a test of competing political formulas inside the DFL.
The contours of this race are now clear: Craig holds the structural advantages — money, infrastructure, and broader electability appeal — while Flanagan holds the coalition advantages — enthusiasm, ideological clarity, and activist alignment.
The candidate who can expand beyond their natural base without losing it will have the edge in a primary that is as much about turnout composition as persuasion.