Minnesota Primary Election Result 2026: The 2026 U.S. Senate primary of Minnesota has emerged as one of the most closely monitored Democratic primaries in the United States of America. U.S. Representative Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are both fighting for the Democratic nomination of the open seat in the Senate. This particular election is not just a battle of personalities; rather, it represents a question of whether Minnesota Democrats favour a candidate who has won competitive congressional races or a progressive candidate with ties with the Democratic base of the state.
According to recent polls, it is a truly competitive election. For instance, a Public Policy Polling poll conducted on July 23-24 gave Flanagan 46% support and Craig was at 32% while a July KSTP/SurveyUSA poll had the two candidates tied at 40% each.
Minnesota Primary Election 2026 Polling Date
The primary election for the state of Minnesota will take place on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The early voting started from June 26, allowing voters to have some options for many weeks prior to Election Day and the Senate primary is especially significant since the seat is an open one.
Minnesota Primary Election 2026 Polling Time
Polling locations in Minnesota are to be open from 7 a.m. until 8 pm, Central Time on August 11. Those voters that are standing in line at the time that the polls close should stay in line.
When Will Minnesota Primary Election Results Be Announced?
Preliminary results should be expected by 8 p.m. CT on election day however it would not be prudent to consider early numbers as conclusive as state and federal results remain unofficial until the State Canvassing Board convenes for certification on August 18, 2026.
Minnesota Primary Election 2026: Key Dates
| Election event | Date |
| Early voting begins | June 26, 2026 |
| Primary Election Day | August 11, 2026 |
| Polls open | 7 a.m. CT |
| Polls close | 8 p.m. CT |
| State Canvassing Board certification | August 18, 2026 |
| General Election | November 3, 2026 |
Minnesota’s official election calendar confirms the August 11 primary and November 3 general election.
Which Races Are On The Minnesota 2026 Ballot?
Voters will see different contests depending on their district, but the statewide and federal races include:
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House
- Governor and lieutenant governor
- Attorney general
- Secretary of state
- State auditor
- Minnesota State Senate
- Minnesota House of Representatives
- Judicial races
- Certain local offices and ballot questions
All 67 Minnesota State Senate seats and all 134 Minnesota House seats are up for election in 2026.
Minnesota Primary Election Key Candidates
| Office | Notable candidates |
| U.S. Senate, DFL | Angie Craig, Peggy Flanagan |
| U.S. Senate, Republican | Michele Tafoya, Royce White, Adam Schwarze and others |
| Governor, DFL | Amy Klobuchar and others |
| Governor, Republican | Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Kendall Qualls and others |
| Attorney General, DFL | Keith Ellison, Dave Madgett |
| State Auditor, Republican | Nate George, Scott Jensen, Will Finn |
| Secretary of State, DFL | Steve Simon |
The state has certified candidates for the August 11 primary.
Minnesota US Senate: Angie Craig vs. Peggy Flanagan
- Angie Craig: He is a four-term Democratic congresswoman who considers herself part of a competitive suburban district. Her pitch is clear-cut; the Democrats need a candidate who can attract moderate and independent voters.
- Peggy Flanagan: Flanagan has been serving as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor since 2019. She is Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor and the highest-ranking Native American woman ever elected to an executive office in the United States.
- Fundraising: Craig has held a substantial financial advantage. As of June 30, she had raised $11.93 million and had $5.04 million cash on hand while on the other hand Flanagan raised $6.04 million with $1.57 million cash on hand.
- Polling: The polling trend is not favoruable for Craig. A PPP poll conducted in late July had Flanagan 14 points ahead while KSTP/SurveyUSA had the candidates neck-and-neck at 40% each.
- Endorsement politics: Flanagan won the DFL endorsement after Craig withdrew from the race for the party endorsement in order to focus on winning the August primary.
- The central argument: Craig focuses on general election competitiveness while Flanagan talks about progressive agenda and Democratic base enthusiasm.
Minnesota Primary Election 2026: Winner Prediction
Flanagan is the candidate in a stronger position going into Election Day however, making such a prediction cannot be considered safe while the information available indicates quite opposite trends. Flanagan leads the polls in a number of cases and also wins DFL nomination, whereas Craig has significantly more money for his campaign and is known as a candidate who managed to win in a highly contested district. The range of polls in July shows that the race was very close, ranging from a 14 point lead to an even match.
Minnesota Primary Election 2026: Who Can Vote in the Minnesota Primary?
In the State of Minnesota, there is no requirement of voter registration with any political party prior to participating in the voting process. In case of participation in a primary election process, a voter can cast his vote only in favour of candidates belonging to one particular political party’s primary.
How To Check Minnesota Primary Election Results Live
- Go to the official website of the Minnesota Secretary of State that provides information on election results.
- Choose the U.S. Senate and keep track of Craig vs. Flanagan race results.
- Observe the results by county and precinct as results come through.
- Be aware that election night results are not considered official results.
- Look for the results certification provided by the State Canvassing Board on August 18th.
Minnesota Election Results 2026: What Voters Should Know
- Results will start coming in after the polls close at 8 p.m. CT.
- Early numbers can change significantly as more counties come in with their figures.
- A close contest might not necessarily be declared on the night of the election.
- Election night figures are different from the official ones.
- The State Canvassing Board will certify the state and federal primary results on August 18.
- November 3 will bring about the determination of who will finally win the vacant Senate seat.
In this case, the Craig-Flanagan primary is not just another nomination fight among Democrats while it gives the citizens of Minnesota a chance to choose which Democratic strategy works best. Craig thinks that moderation and his previous experience in general elections are the safer bets. Flanagan thinks that having a progressive label will be beneficial in the long run. The numbers seem to indicate that Flanagan has the edge now, but Craig has a good record and money.
Disclaimer: This article uses available polling and official election data; preliminary results can change until Minnesota officials complete canvassing and certification.
