BREAKING: Far-left 'trans kids' enthusiast Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota US Senate Democrat primary

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive Democrat who previously wore a “Protect Trans Kids” shirt featuring a tactical knife and praised Democrats for voting against the Laken Riley Act, has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s open US Senate seat.

Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig on Tuesday, marking another victory for the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. She was backed by progressive Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as retiring Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.

Flanagan, a supporter of transgender activism, previously faced criticism over a photograph showing her wearing a shirt bearing the words “Protect Trans Kids” alongside the image of a tactical knife. The image resurfaced amid scrutiny of transgender activist merchandise featuring slogans alongside guns, knives and other weapons. Other merchandise included phrases such as “Trans rights ... or else” alongside images of firearms.

The primary exposed a sharp divide between Flanagan and Craig on immigration, particularly over Craig’s vote for the Laken Riley Act. Flanagan repeatedly hammered Craig over the vote during the campaign, while Craig later expressed regret for supporting the legislation. Flanagan previously praised Minnesota Democrats who opposed the Laken Riley Act while speaking at a stop on Sanders’ “Fight Oligarchy” tour in May.

Flanagan accused the legislation of stripping due process protections from illegal immigrants and giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement “unprecedented power to totally terrorize our communities.”

“I want to be clear: that there is a straight line from the Laken Riley Act vote to what we saw in the streets of our communities,” Flanagan said.

The Laken Riley Act was named for the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student murdered by illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, who had been paroled into the United States during the Biden administration. The law requires federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of certain offenses, including theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and crimes resulting in serious bodily injury or death.

Flanagan also singled out Craig during those remarks, contrasting her vote with other Minnesota Democrats. “Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Smith, Congresswoman Omar, McCollum and Morrison, they all voted against it, and my opponent was the only [Democrat] who voted for it,” Flanagan said, adding that while she appreciated Craig regretting the vote, Democrats deserved leaders who “vote their values all of the time.”

Flanagan campaigned on what she described as “radical change” in the US immigration system, including “ripping apart” ICE and expanding Medicare to everyone.

Flanagan’s progressive record became a central contrast with Craig, who attempted to turn attention toward the lieutenant governor’s role in the Tim Walz administration and the massive fraud scandals involving Minnesota government programs. Craig argued that Flanagan bore responsibility as the second-ranking official in an administration that struggled to prevent abuse of state social-service programs.

Flanagan has served as lieutenant governor alongside Walz since 2019.

She will now face Republican nominee and former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya in November for the seat being vacated by Smith. Tafoya won the Republican primary Tuesday.