REGIONAL— Two women, one a Republican and the other a DFLer, provided the biggest surprises during Tuesday’s primary contests.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defied pre-primary polling suggesting a tight contest to score an impressive 20-point victory over U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who had outspent Flanagan by a wide margin. Flanagan showed real strength in northeastern Minnesota, pulling about 70 percent of the vote across the Arrowhead.
Flanagan, who was identified as the more progressive of the two candidates, had received the DFL endorsement and campaigned on a platform that included Medicare for all, universal child care, and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Craig, in contrast, emphasized her experience in Congress and her ability to win in a competitive suburban district. Craig also took in enormous contributions from special interest political action committees and benefitted from millions of dollars in independent expenditures supporting her or attacking Flanagan. In the end, Flanagan was able to use Craig’s vast war chest against her.
“For months now I have been telling you this campaign is about the many versus the money,” Flanagan told supporters Tuesday. “This didn’t happen because of me. This happened because of you. This happened because you said Minnesota is not for sale.”
Flanagan received 411,456 votes statewide, or 59 percent, while Craig collected 274,582 votes, or 39.4 percent. The result was substantially more decisive than pre-election polling suggested. Craig led Flanagan 41-36 percent in a June SurveyUSA poll, while the July poll showed the two tied at 40 percent, with 16 percent undecided.
Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation, would become the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. But first she will face Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster who won a crowded nine-candidate primary with 211,631 votes, or 52.1 percent. Republican-endorsed candidate Adam Schwarze finished second with 97,410 votes, or 24 percent, while 2024 Republican nominee Royce White finished third with 45,351 votes, or 11.2 percent.
Tafoya’s margin was narrower in St. Louis County, where she received 5,380 votes, or 43.6 percent, to Schwarze’s 3,159 votes, or 25.6 percent. Among the 34 North Country precincts included in the Timberjay’s local results tally, Tafoya led Schwarze in 25, Schwarze led in seven, and they tied in two.
Demuth scores major upset
The biggest surprise on the GOP side was GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth’s convincing victory over Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell for the Republican nomination for governor. While Demuth won statewide, North Country Republicans backed Lindell.
Lindell led Demuth in St. Louis County with 5,028 votes, or 39.7 percent, to Demuth’s 4,575 votes, or 36.2 percent. Among the 34 North Country precincts included in the Timberjay’s local results tally, Lindell outpolled Demuth in 24, while Demuth led in seven and the two tied in three.
The result was reversed statewide, where Demuth scored an impressive win with 179,546 votes, or 43.4 percent, to Lindell’s 134,198 votes, or 32.5 percent. Republican-endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls finished third with 88,329 votes, or 21.4 percent.
Demuth will face DFL nominee Amy Klobuchar in November in a historic contest between the first women nominated for governor by either of Minnesota’s two major parties. The winner will become the state’s first female governor.
Klobuchar, a four-term U.S. senator, overwhelmed six little-known opponents in the DFL primary, receiving 614,354 votes, or 89.7 percent. Her support was even stronger in St. Louis County, where she collected 26,025 votes, or 92.7 percent.
Demuth’s victory ran counter to recent statewide primary polling. A SurveyUSA poll conducted July 15-20 showed Lindell leading the Republican field with 35 percent, followed by Demuth at 26 percent and Qualls at 11 percent. Twenty-two percent of likely Republican primary voters were undecided at the time.
Demuth also overcame the Republican Party endorsement, which Qualls won after 10 rounds of voting at the party’s state convention in May.
Demuth, who became Minnesota’s first Black House speaker in 2025, portrayed Klobuchar as a continuation of DFL leadership under Gov. Tim Walz.
“We can’t afford more of the same. And that’s exactly what Amy Klobuchar would be as governor,” Demuth said. “She’s been running for office for more than 30 years. She simply cannot deliver the kind of change Minnesotans want.”
Klobuchar said Tuesday that Minnesotans need a governor who will focus on affordability, economic growth, and fraud in state programs.
“We need a governor who is going to put Minnesotans first — not be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump or anyone else,” Klobuchar said.
Swanson to face Stauber
There were no surprises in the Eighth Congressional District, where DFL-endorsed Trina Swanson and Republican incumbent Pete Stauber easily won their respective primaries.
Swanson received 54,412 votes districtwide, or 77.2 percent. Luke Gulbranson finished second with 11,887 votes, or 16.9 percent, while John Munter received 4,144 votes, or 5.9 percent.
Swanson’s margin was slightly larger in St. Louis County, where she received 22,368 votes, or 80.5 percent.
“I am honored to have earned the support of voters across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District,” Swanson said. “We do not have to settle for Pete Stauber’s brand of divisive politics and putting corporate interests and the Trump Administration ahead of Minnesota families. Minnesotans are ready for representation that puts kitchen table issues first. I will fight for opportunity at home.”
Stauber received 58,086 votes districtwide, or 86.5 percent, to challenger Anthony Hamilton’s 9,101 votes, or 13.6 percent. Stauber carried St. Louis County by a similar margin, receiving 11,080 votes, or 87.4 percent.
Stauber, who has represented the district since 2019, won reelection in 2024 with 58 percent of the vote.
Other state races
Tad Jude won the Republican primary for secretary of state, collecting 229,634 votes, or 60.3 percent, over Wendy Phillips. He will face incumbent DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon, who was unopposed.
Scott Jensen, the Republican nominee for governor in 2022, won the GOP primary for state auditor with 258,568 votes, or 66.7 percent, over Nate George and Will Finn. Jensen will face DFL nominee Zack Filipovich, who was unopposed.
Incumbent DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison defeated David J.S. Madgett with 572,590 votes, or 84.7 percent. Ellison will face Republican Ronald J. Schutz, who was unopposed.
Disparity in turnout
While both parties had competitive races at the top of their primary ballots, DFL turnout clearly swamped that seen on the Republican side. In the U.S. Senate contest, Flanagan received more votes than all nine GOP candidates combined, and nearly twice as many votes as Tafoya.
In St. Louis County, a total of 28,241 DFL voters turned out in the Senate contest, compared to 12,342 Republicans who cast ballots. Recent polling has suggested a large enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters this year, and Tuesday’s primary turnout seemed to confirm those findings.