Immigration Enforcement Divides Minnesota Democrats in Senate Primary

Minnesota’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday features a stark ideological divide between establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, with federal immigration enforcement operations serving as a central point of contention. The clash reflects broader tensions playing out across the Democratic Party between centrist pragmatism and progressive activism, centered on the Biden and Trump administrations’ approach to immigration policy.

Craig’s support for the Laken Riley Act, passed early in 2025 and requiring federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, has become a political vulnerability. She voted for the bill alongside nearly 60 other House and Senate Democrats, but later reversed course, publishing a column in the Minnesota Star Tribune expressing regret for the decision after observing what she characterized as an “outright occupation by aggressive, unaccountable federal forces” in Minneapolis.

Immigration agents staged at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building near Minneapolis International Airport for a monthslong deportation campaign, drawing sustained protests from local activists. Two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in street confrontations during the operation. Volunteers in orange vests continue to monitor the facility daily, assisting individuals released from immigration detention and those departing immigration court hearings.

Flanagan has weaponized Craig’s immigration vote as evidence of insufficient commitment to opposing the Trump administration. “My primary opponent voted for Donald Trump’s immigration bill and was the only Minnesota Democrat to do so,” Flanagan told supporters, demanding accountability for the delayed reversal. Flanagan’s campaign emphasizes support for Medicare for All and reduced U.S. military assistance to Israel, positioning her as the more progressive alternative.

Craig has worked to rehabilitate her image by highlighting her background of economic hardship and her record of winning competitive races. Raised by a single mother in an Arkansas trailer park, she flipped a Republican-held congressional seat in 2018 and has survived subsequent reelection campaigns against substantial attack advertising. She was among House Democrats calling for President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race after his debate performance against Trump.

The fundraising gap between the candidates remains substantial. Through July 22, Craig’s campaign had spent $9 million compared to Flanagan’s $5.5 million, with outside spending disproportionately favoring Craig. Flanagan has sought to offset the financial disadvantage by enlisting progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who campaigned with her last month.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has declined to endorse either candidate for the seat previously held by Democrat Tina Smith, who chose not to seek reelection. His wife, Gwen Walz, endorsed Craig over Flanagan in late July. The Republican field includes Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter.