Urban Suburbs Decide Minnesota Senate Race

Minnesota voters selected a new U.S. Senator on Tuesday, placing the state's former lieutenant governor in a position to represent the region in Washington, D.C. Peggy Flanagan defeated Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, in the race for the open seat.

With 99% of ballots counted, Flanagan captured 53.7% of the total vote. Tafoya finished with 43.6%. The final numbers confirm Flanagan's victory and establish her as the state's next senator.

The electoral map reveals a stark geographic divide. Tafoya carried 72 of Minnesota's 87 counties, a sweep concentrated in rural districts. However, Flanagan built her total on the state's largest and most populous jurisdictions. She secured leads in 15 counties, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Olmsted, St. Louis, and Washington.

The financial weight of those urban and suburban districts determined the outcome. Flanagan posted her largest margins in Ramsey County, where she led by 51.5 percentage points. In Hennepin County, her advantage stood at 45.9 points. She also maintained double-digit leads in St. Louis County and Olmsted County.

Several counties remained within a narrow range. Flanagan held a 1.9-point lead in Anoka County and a 2.5-point lead in Nicollet County. Rice County saw a 3.3-point gap in her favor. Hennepin County recorded the highest vote total in the state at 664,237 ballots, followed by Ramsey County at 249,770 and Dakota County at 231,084.

County officials have reported 99% of results across the state. The final outcome remains subject to official certification.