What to know about US primary election in Minnesota

What the report says

Minnesota voters are heading into a closely watched Democratic Senate primary that Al Jazeera says is being shaped in large part by immigration politics. The contest pits Representative Angie Craig, seen as the more establishment-backed candidate, against Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who has stronger support from the party’s progressive wing. The winner will replace Senator Tina Smith, who is not seeking re-election, and the race may offer a signal about what kind of Democrat Minnesota voters prefer heading into the midterms.

According to Al Jazeera, the debate over immigration has intensified after federal immigration agents were deployed in Minneapolis as part of the Trump administration’s deportation effort in late 2025 and early 2026. The operation prompted protests and clashes, and the article says Craig and Flanagan both criticised the crackdown. Craig has also faced scrutiny over her vote for the Laken Riley Act, later saying she regretted supporting it. Flanagan has tried to frame the race as a clearer break from that approach, with endorsements from figures such as Representative Ilhan Omar, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and outgoing Senator Tina Smith.

The article also places the Senate race alongside other statewide contests in Minnesota, including an open governor’s race after Tim Walz decided not to seek another term. Polls in the state are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. CT and close at 8 p.m. CT. In the broader context, Minnesota has leaned Democratic in recent statewide races, but this primary shows the party’s internal split over immigration, border enforcement and how aggressively Democrats should oppose Trump-era policies.