Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate · Minnesota

4 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Marisa Simonetti
Independent · Open seat
Rebecca Whiting
Libertarian · Open seat
Peggy Flanagan
Democratic-Farmer-Labor · Open seat
Michele Tafoya
Republican · Open seat

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Marisa SimonettiRebecca WhitingPeggy FlanaganMichele Tafoya
Party on the ballotIndependent1,2Libertarian1,2Democratic-Farmer-Labor1,2,3Republican1,2,3
StatusOpen seatOpen seatOpen seatOpen seat
RaisedNot found in the public sources we checked$3,756 through October 14, 20264$11,563,963 through October 14, 20265$12,501,786 through October 14, 20266
Cash on handNot found in the public sources we checked$1,9284$993,2145$2,819,3876
Outside spendingNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked$2,840,672 for · $8,826,037 against7$44,884 for · $699,903 against8
Police fundingNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHer campaign website says she supports funding local police departments so they have the resources to train officers and support community safety.9
Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
Her campaign website says she will push for more funding, equipment and training for police officers.10
Immigration enforcement inside the countryNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
Her campaign website says ICE should be dismantled and the immigration system rebuilt around dignity, safety and due process, and that she supports ending the Trump administration's mass deportation policy.9		Her campaign website says noncitizen immigrants convicted of fraud should be deported and that she would cosponsor the Deporting Fraudsters Act; it also says she supports deporting immigrants in the country illegally who commit crimes and opposes efforts to abolish ICE.10
Federal spending levelsNot found in the public sources we checked
Cut overall federal spending
Her campaign website says federal overspending and the printing of money are driving inflation, and it calls for defunding the government.11		Not found in the public sources we checked
Cut overall federal spending
Her campaign website says Congress should spend less, borrow less and tax less.10
Private care for veteransNot found in the public sources we checkedHer campaign website says the VA should be privatized so the free market can give veterans faster access to care.11Her campaign website opposes the Trump administration's efforts to cut and privatize the Department of Veterans Affairs and says the federal government should deliver veterans' care itself.9Not found in the public sources we checked

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Rebecca Whiting — 2 issues
  • Federal Reserve independence
    Her campaign website says she wants to end the Federal Reserve and dismantle the central banks.11
  • Foreign aid
    Her campaign website opposes what it calls entangling alliances and says allies should run their own countries without US money.11
Peggy Flanagan — 34 issues
  • Birth control and IVF
    Guarantee access to both in federal law, including insurance coverage for IVF
    Her campaign website says she wants a federal version of Minnesota's law protecting access to contraception, fertility services and other reproductive care, and supports requiring Medicaid and ACA marketplace plans to cover IVF.9
  • Government funding and abortion
    Let Medicaid and other public programs cover abortion (ending the Hyde Amendment)
    Her campaign website says she would vote to repeal the Hyde Amendment and opposes efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.9
  • Who sets abortion law
    A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
    Her campaign website says she supports passing the Women's Health Protection Act to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade and expand access to abortion in every state.9
  • Ethanol and biofuel requirements
    Her campaign website says she supports biofuels, including continued investment in sustainable aviation fuel.9
  • Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
    Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
    Her campaign website says she will work to pass the Equality Act.9
  • Voting Rights Act protections
    Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
    Her campaign website says she supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.9
  • Federal minimum wage
    Raise to $15 or more
    Her campaign website says she supports raising the federal minimum wage to at least $17 an hour and tying it to inflation.9
  • Small business loans and programs
    Her campaign website says the government should invest in small business loans and make sure small businesses do not pay a higher tax rate than large corporations.9
  • Tariffs
    Her campaign website says she supports eliminating tariffs that it says are hurting Minnesota farmers, while keeping protections for industries such as Minnesota iron mining and giving farmers aid.9
  • Union organizing rules
    Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
    Her campaign website says she supports passing the PRO Act to strengthen workers' right to organize a union.9
  • Student loan forgiveness
    Add targeted relief, such as more forgiveness for public service workers or through income-based repayment
    Her campaign website says she supports more tuition support and loan forgiveness for people in public service jobs such as teaching and health care.9
  • Vouchers and education savings accounts
    No public money for private school or homeschooling costs
    Her campaign website says the federal government should have a larger role in funding K-12 education, without a voucher program.9
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    Her campaign website says she wants to ban corporate money in elections, require disclosure of all donors and reverse the Citizens United decision.9
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks
    Her campaign website says she supports banning stock trading by anyone elected to federal office, including members of Congress and the president.9
  • Child care costs
    Her campaign website says she supports universal child care and expanding publicly funded universal pre-K.9
  • Child tax credit
    Her campaign website says she supports expanding the Child Tax Credit to cut taxes for middle- and working-class families and lift children out of poverty.9
  • Food assistance (SNAP)
    Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
    Her campaign website says she will work to reverse the Trump administration's cuts to food assistance and to protect and expand SNAP and Meals on Wheels.9
  • Paid family and medical leave
    Create a national paid leave program for all workers
    Her campaign website says she supports national paid family and medical leave.9
  • Aid to Ukraine
    Her campaign website says she supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.9
  • Economic ties with China
    Her campaign website says she supports cracking down on countries such as China that it says use unfair trade practices to undercut American workers and Minnesota businesses.9
  • Military aid to Israel
    Her campaign website says she supports a lasting ceasefire and a two-state solution, would have voted with Senators Smith and Klobuchar to halt offensive weapons sales to Israel, and wants more aid sent to Gaza.9
  • US role in NATO
    Her campaign website says she supports rebuilding ties with NATO allies.9
  • AR-15-style rifles
    Ban the sale of these rifles
    Her campaign website says she wants to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and ghost guns.9
  • Rules for gun accessories and parts
    Her campaign website says she wants to ban high-capacity magazines and ghost guns.9
  • ACA premium tax credits
    Her campaign website says she will work to restore health care tax credits that it says were eliminated for 90,000 Minnesotans.9
  • Federal Medicaid funding
    Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
    Her campaign website says she supports reversing the Medicaid cuts in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.9
  • Health insurance system
    One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
    Her campaign website says she believes health care is a human right and will push for Medicare for All, while working to expand access to care until such a plan passes.9
  • Large investors buying single-family homes
    Her campaign website says large corporate landlords and hedge funds should be banned from buying single-family homes.9
  • Asylum rules
    Her campaign website says refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence, persecution and war should have a fair and lawful process to seek safety.9
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    Her campaign website says she supports a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who contribute to Minnesota's economy and communities.9
  • Income tax on Social Security benefits
    End income tax on Social Security benefits
    Her campaign website says she supports eliminating the tax on Social Security.9
  • Medicare dental, vision and hearing coverage
    Add dental, vision and hearing coverage to traditional Medicare
    Her campaign website says she will work to expand Medicare and Medicaid to cover vision, dental and hearing care.9
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    Expand it to more drugs and to people with private insurance
    Her campaign website says Medicare and Medicaid should negotiate the prices of all prescription drugs, not just a handful.9
  • Social Security payroll tax cap
    Her campaign website says the wealthiest Americans should pay more into Social Security, by expanding the income cap and the sources of income subject to contributions.9
Michele Tafoya — 6 issues
  • Mandatory minimum sentences
    Add or raise mandatory minimums, for example for selling fentanyl
    Her campaign website says she will push for new mandatory minimum federal prison sentences for fraud.10
  • Transgender students in school sports
    Require teams based on sex at birth
    Her campaign website says she would work to keep people born male out of women's sports and locker rooms.10
  • Voter ID
    Require a government-issued photo ID, with free IDs for people who need one
    Her campaign website says she supports voter ID and paper ballots, noting that photo ID is required to drive, fly or open a bank account, and that she will push for the SAVE Act.10
  • State and local role in immigration enforcement
    Her campaign website says federal, state and local law enforcement should be able to work together to enforce immigration law, and that mayors, governors and attorneys general cannot veto federal law.10
  • Federal income tax rates
    Her campaign website says she will oppose any tax increase on the middle class and opposes repealing the tax cuts it calls the Working Family Tax Cuts.10
  • Fraud and improper payments in federal programs
    Her campaign website says she would push to cut off federal funding to any state that refuses to put anti-fraud controls in place or follow basic audit and recovery practices.10

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.