U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announces she will not run for reelection for Minnesota seat next year
MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced on Thursday that she will not run for reelection next year, leaving another currently Democrat-held seat open ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
"This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I'll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country," Smith said in a video posted to social media.
In the video, Smith said "this decision is not political, it is entirely personal."
"After 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I'm ready to spend more time with my family," she added.
Smith said she plans to "use every single day" of her remaining term "working as hard as I can to represent your interests in the United States Senate and make sure that your voices are heard."
She also said "we have a deep bench of political talent in Minnesota — a group of leaders that are more than ready to pick up the work and carry us forward, and I'm excited to make room for them to move forward."
In an interview with WCCO on Thursday, Smith said she has "a real sense of clarity that this is the right thing for me to be doing right now, and a lot of excitement for what's going to come next, and a lot of energy for the next two years."
"These next two years seem incredibly important to me. I think it's going to be history-making two years for our country and for the Senate," she said. "I'm very worried about the path that we're on, and to be able to focus all of my energy on the work that I have here, it just feels very important. So I am not giving up any fights."
Not long after Smith's declaration, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced her intention to run for the Senate on social media, saying she'll make a formal announcement later this month. She also praised Smith's work in the Senate.
"Senator Smith has paved the way for so many women like me throughout her entire career. She uses her voice to fiercely defend the people of Minnesota. She's fought for small businesses, farmers, and those who've been overlooked so they can have a fair shot at economic success," Flanagan said. "Senator Smith is also an organizer at heart. She knows we all do better when everyone has a seat at the table. Thank you, Tina, for your leadership. I look forward to continuing our work together for Minnesotans."
Late last month, Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up a key seat in a battleground state.
Minnesota has not had an open Senate seat since 2008. That year, the Norm Coleman-Al Franken election was one of the closest races in the country, with Coleman losing by just 300 votes.
According to CBS Congressional Correspondent Scott MacFarlane, Smith may have been safely secure in her Senate seat in 2026, but vacating it could make it a tossup. It is already viewed as as a competitive election for the midterms, when Democrats are looking to make inroads ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Smith's background, path to Senate
Smith has held the U.S. Senate seat since 2018; she was first appointed to the position after former Sen. Al Franken resigned due to allegations of sexual harassment. She then beat Republican Karin Housley in the special election that November and was reelected in 2020. Before taking on the role of senator, Smith served as the state's lieutenant governor for Gov. Mark Dayton. She also served as chief of staff for both Dayton and Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Smith was born in New Mexico and moved to Minnesota in 1984. In her pre-politics career, she worked at General Mills and was later an executive at Planned Parenthood.
Smith's colleagues react
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Smith's compatriot from Minnesota, released the following statement:
"It's been a privilege to work with Senator Tina Smith. I'm 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. We have watched each other's kids grow up and been there for each other through life's ups and downs. As the only Senator to have worked at Planned Parenthood, Tina quickly became a leader in Washington in the fight to protect women's rights. Tina also bravely shared her own story as part of her work to strengthen mental health services for all Americans. Her quiet but effective governing style earned her the title 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."
Franken thanked Smith on social media for her work.
"She's worked hard to make their lives better at every step of her career and has admirably served them in the U.S. Senate," Franken said. "As DFLers, we are lucky to have a deep bench of people who are guided by Paul Wellstone's words: we all do better when we all do better. I look forward to supporting the candidate we nominate to work on behalf of Minnesotans in Washington."
Minnesota DFL Party Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said "no one has fought harder for Minnesotans and our values than Tina Smith."
"From reproductive freedom to workers' rights, Tina has been a relentless champion for the DFL principle that we all do better when we all do better," Kraus Kaplan said. "The DFL will work as tirelessly as Tina does to ensure that her successor shares her commitment to Minnesota values."
Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash said Smith's decision creates an opportunity for Republicans to take the seat.
"Tina Smith saw the political reality coming — Minnesotans are fed up with the failed, radical policies of the Biden administration and the Minnesota Democratic Party," Plechash said. "From rising costs to surging crime, failing schools, and reckless overtaxation, Smith rubber-stamped Biden's disastrous agenda every step of the way. Her decision not to run is just further proof that Democrats know they can't defend their record in 2026 ... The Minnesota GOP is building the infrastructure to win in 2026. This race is an opportunity to flip this Senate seat, add to the growing Republican majority, and ensure Minnesota families have a voice in Washington that actually represents them."
Minnesota state Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy called Smith "a fierce force in the United States Senate."
"I count on her discerning courage and steadfast partnership in our day-to-day fight for Minnesotans," Murphy said. "I am happy for Tina, Archie, and their family, and I'm committed to our continued work together."
Rep. Angie Craig, a fellow Democrat, said Smith is "a true public servant."
"Her work to lower the cost of prescription drugs, broaden access to mental health care, fight the effects of climate change and expand economic opportunity in rural Minnesota will be felt for generations," Craig said. "And as women across the country continue to fight back against the attacks on our reproductive rights, her voice will be critical in the Senate over the next two years."
