ST. PAUL 鈥� Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday, Feb. 13, that she will not run for re-election in 2026 for her seat in the U.S. Senate, leaving one of Minnesota鈥檚 two seats in the chamber up for grabs.
With 20 years in public service and almost two years left in her term, Smith said Thursday the decision is 鈥渘ot political, it is entirely personal.鈥�
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Smith said in a video announcement that she wants to spend more time with her family, pointing to her four grandchildren and her 95-year-old father.
鈥淥ne of my great joys is to know that I have time to spend more time with them, doing sleepovers and helping out from time to time when the kids need me,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o this decision is not political, it is entirely personal, but it鈥檚 not lost on me that our country is in need of strong progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever.鈥�
Smith said she is excited to make room going forward for Minnesota鈥檚 鈥渄eep bench of political talent,鈥� and that she looks forward to focusing on her work as a senator and not also juggling a campaign the next two years.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced through social media Thursday that she intends to run for the seat and will make a formal announcement later this month.
鈥淚 love Minnesota and my intention is to run for United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state,鈥� she said.
Royce White, a conservative former basketball player, announced his 2026 bid for Smith鈥檚 Senate seat in November after losing his bid to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who took 56% of the vote against his 40%. Democrats have not lost a statewide race in Minnesota since 2006, when former Gov. Tim Pawlenty was elected.
Klobuchar released a statement via email following Smith鈥檚 announcement.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 been a privilege to work with Senator Tina Smith,鈥� Klobuchar said in a statement. 鈥淚鈥檓 lucky enough to call her not only a colleague but a true friend. Tina and I have been friends since long before our time together in the Senate鈥er quiet but effective governing style earned her the title of the velvet hammer. While Tina and I will continue to work together for the next two years, our friendship and her legacy will last a lifetime.鈥�
Smith, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she worked for General Mills and raised her two sons with her husband, Archie Smith. Smith then worked for Planned Parenthood, as chief of staff to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and chief of staff for Mark Dayton鈥檚 campaign in 2011 before eventually running for office with him in 2014, according to her official website.
Smith, 66, was first elected to the U.S. Senate seat in 2018. Previously, she served as lieutenant governor for Dayton.
While serving in the Senate, Smith that have been signed into law, including the Inflation Reduction Act, two bipartisan mental health care bills, the Violence Against Women Act for Native American women and the Rural MOMS Act to address maternal deaths in rural areas.
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