Progressive Candidate Wins Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate in Minnesota; Tight Race in Wisconsin

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, has secured the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota.

According to AP and Reuters, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan defeated centrist U.S. Representative Angie Craig in the Minnesota Democratic Senate primary.

Like the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary, the Senate primary in heavily Democratic Minnesota served as a clear reflection of the ideological battle between the moderate and progressive factions within the Democratic Party.

Following progressive Muslim candidate Abdul El-Sayed's victory over a moderate candidate in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary on the 4th, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan's primary win marks two consecutive victories for the progressive wing.

In the Minnesota gubernatorial Democratic primary held on the same day, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was selected as the candidate.

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin gubernatorial Democratic primary—which has drawn significant attention from U.S. political circles and the media due to the candidacy of second-generation Korean American state Representative Francesca Hong—is turning into a too-close-to-call battle with no clear leader yet.

Candidate Hong is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and holds strong progressive views.

She has been locked in a tight race until the final moments with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a centrist.

Although initial polls favored Hong, vote counting so far shows an ultra-tight race within a 1 percentage point margin.

The candidate ultimately nominated will face U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee, in the general election.

Wisconsin is a key swing state that has seen razor-thin margins of victory within 1 percentage point in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections.

In Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, which became vacant due to Representative Tiffany's run for governor, Michael Alfonso was chosen as the Republican candidate for the U.S. House.

He is the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and received the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

In Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Representative Shomari Figures (Democratic) and state Representative Rett Marquez (Republican) were selected as their respective party nominees and will face off in the November midterm elections.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.