Bernie Sanders says Minnesota Democratic Senate primary between Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig will be “tight”

Sen. Bernie Sanders said he expects the Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota to be a close contest, describing it as a “tight race” between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig.

Sanders made the remarks in an interview context reported by The Hill on August 9, after discussing what he characterized as the state’s political dynamics during the primary matchup.

In the same remarks, Sanders said he “hope[d] very much that Peggy wins,” adding that the race reflected broader trends in Minnesota.

Sanders’ comments framed the contest as competitive rather than settled, emphasizing uncertainty about how voters will weigh the candidates within the Democratic primary.

The Minnesota primary Sanders referenced pits Flanagan, a state lieutenant governor, against Craig, a sitting member of Congress, according to the report summarizing Sanders’ statements.

The Hill’s report described Sanders’ view that the contest would be “tight,” and it linked that assessment to his expectation that voters could be divided between different Democratic approaches represented by the two candidates.

Sanders’ characterization of the race as closely fought comes as Minnesota Democrats look to select a nominee for the U.S. Senate, with the primary serving as the key decision point for the Democratic nomination.

Beyond the campaign level, a tightly contested primary can affect how party resources are deployed and how quickly candidates consolidate support, particularly as party voters decide between competing Democratic voting blocs.