Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate primary with unapologetic defense of trans rights

Minnesota Democrats chose a progressive ally over an LGBTQ+ history-maker Tuesday, handing Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan victory against lesbian U.S. Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary for U.S. Senate.

Results showed Flanagan winning 58.9 percent to Craig’s 39.5 percent, a margin exceeding 131,000 votes. Flanagan dominated the Twin Cities and beat Craig across much of Greater Minnesota, puncturing the congresswoman’s argument that winning a formerly Republican district made her uniquely capable of carrying the state.

She will face Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, in November for retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s seat. Smith backed Flanagan. A member of the White Earth Nation, Flanagan would become the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.

Related: LGBTQ+ group backs Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for Senate over lesbian Rep. Angie Craig

Craig, Minnesota’s first out member of Congress, had support from the Human Rights Campaign, Equality PAC, Pete Buttigieg, lesbian Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell. Craig held a substantial fundraising advantage.

But as The Advocate previously reported, the Christopher Street Project, a group that supports pro-trans rights candidates and causes, endorsed Flanagan in July, citing Craig’s failure to co-sponsor the Trans Bill of Rights and Flanagan’s commitment to organize Democrats around transgender protections.

Related: Lesbian Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig launches historic U.S. Senate bid

“I think it’s clear to me that civil rights and human rights should always be something that Democrats stand for,” Flanagan recently told The Advocate. “When any community is under attack, our job is to stand up for each other.”

She offered a sharper warning to Democrats tempted to retreat from transgender rights. “If you don’t stand up for the things that you claim you believe in, then I don’t know that you really believe in those things.”

Craig conceded Tuesday and offered Flanagan her “full and complete support.”