ST, PAUL, Minn. — The Democratic primary for the U.S Senate in Minnesota is shaping up as one of the most expensive history. And the primary election is still 3-1/2 weeks away. Both Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan want the seat, which is being vacated by the retirement of Tina Smith. Since the start of June, more than $11 million has been spent. Most of the money has gone into louder and louder negative television ads. Flanagan claims that corporate donors want to elect Craig to do their bidding if elected. Craig’s campaign has criticized Flanagan for accepting outside support from Big Tobacco and Big Oil when she previously chaired the national Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association. Candidates are required to file periodic pubic reports on sources of their campaign funding, but millions of dollars in so-called “dark money ” is channeled into political action committees, which aren’t required to report their sources.
Money in and out
These are candidate campaign reports filed June 30 by leading U.S. Senate candidates on Minnesota‘s August primary election ballot:
Democrats
Angie Craig: Total received, $11.9 million; spent far, $6.9 million; remaining war chest, $5 million.
Peggy Flanagan, who holds the state party’s convention endorsement: Total received, $6 million; spent so far, $4.5 million; remaining war chest, $1.5 million
Republicans
Adam Schwarze, who holds the state party’s convention endorsement: Total received, $1.4 million; spent so far, $1.3; remaining war chest, $200,000.
Michele Tafoya: Total received, $4.7 million; spent so far, $$2.6 million; remaining war chest, $2.1 million.
Craig. In U.S. House since 2017.
Flanagan, Lieutenant governor since 2019.
Who’s leading
These are the July 14 weekly updates on Minnesota’s U.S.Senate race by the leading nonpartisan services:
Cook Political Report: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.
Inside Elections: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic, unchanged for four weeks.