# Flanagan leads Tafoya, but only barely

> A retiring Senate seat, a sideline reporter turned Republican nominee, and a lead that keeps landing inside the margin of error.
- Title: Flanagan leads Tafoya, but only barely · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: A retiring Senate seat, a sideline reporter turned Republican nominee, and a lead that keeps landing inside the margin of error. Flanagan is ahead in every…
- Keywords: minnesota, senate, midterms, polling, elections, Flanagan, leads, Tafoya, only, barely, Newsweek
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/peggy-flanagans-chances-of-losing-to-michele-tafoya-in-minnesota-polls-12432045
- Published: 2026-09-11T16:48:20+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: minnesota, senate, midterms, polling, elections
## A lead inside the error bars
A new Quantus Insights poll puts Peggy Flanagan at 48.2 percent to Michele Tafoya's 44.4 percent. The gap is smaller than the poll's own margin of error, so it is not a safe lead.
## Why this seat matters
Republicans hold the Senate 53-47. Democrats have to defend everything they already have, including two states Trump won in 2024, and flip four more.
## Handicappers say likely Democrat
The Cook Political Report moved Minnesota from Lean Democrat to Likely Democrat in August, a sign the professionals see less danger here than the topline numbers suggest.
## The Republican pitch
Tafoya's campaign manager, Christine Snell, is running hard at Flanagan's eight years as lieutenant governor and the state's fraud investigations.

> Minnesotans are ready to fire the career politicians who failed us and send an independent-minded outsider to the Senate.
## An open seat, a long drought
Tina Smith is retiring. Minnesota last sent a Republican to the Senate in 2002, when Norm Coleman won, and he lost reelection to Al Franken six years later.
## The progressive won the primary
Flanagan beat Representative Angie Craig in August with backing from Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar, another round in the fight between the party's left and its moderates.
## From the sideline to the ballot
Tafoya spent years as an NFL sideline reporter. She is betting that name recognition plus an outsider profile can break a long Democratic run in statewide races.
## The state is not what it was
Harris carried Minnesota by about 4 points in 2024 and Clinton by under 2 in 2016. Obama won it by nearly 8 in 2012 and more than 10 in 2008.
## Two shootings changed the mood
Federal immigration officers fatally shot two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, in January during Minneapolis protests, hardening anger at Operation Metro Surge.
## A deep split by age and gender
Women back Flanagan by 14 points and men back Tafoya by 8. Voters under 45 go for Flanagan roughly two to one, while Tafoya leads everyone over 45.
## Other polls agree, narrowly
TIPP had Flanagan up 44-42 in early September. KSTP/SurveyUSA had her up 46-41 in August with 11 percent undecided. Small leads, consistent direction.
## Bettors are not nervous
Kalshi gives Flanagan a 90.3 percent chance of winning the seat and Polymarket puts her at 92 percent, far more confident than any single poll would support.
## Control is still a coin flip
Silver Bulletin shows Democrats ahead in exactly the four GOP seats they need, with no cushion. Kalshi gives Republicans 53 percent odds of holding the Senate; Polymarket gives Democrats 53 percent.
## Key takeaway

Flanagan is ahead in every public poll and prediction markets give her about 90 percent, but the margins are thin enough that Minnesota stays worth watching until November 3.