Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) announced on April 29 2025, that she will run for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The seat is open since incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced she would not seek re-election. As of April 29, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have rated the general election for the seat as Lean Democratic. Inside Elections rated it Battleground Democratic.

In a video announcing her campaign, Craig said, “We’re proud Minnesotans—a state of fierce independence, freedom and community. People willing to take on the powerful and fight for what’s right. It’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate: to listen, to fight for all of Minnesota and to win.”

In 2016, Craig ran to represent Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District after then-Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) announced he would not seek re-election. Jason Lewis (R) defeated Craig in the general election 47% to 45%. 

In 2018, Craig defeated Lewis in a rematch 53% to 47% in the general election. Craig was among 30 challengers to defeat an incumbent in a general election that year. In her three subsequent re-election bids, Craig won by two percentage points in 2020, five percentage points in 2022, and 14 percentage points in 2024.

Minnesota Reformer’s Madison McVan wrote, “Craig’s centrist politics have helped her win four consecutive elections in the purple 2nd District in the south metro, with her margin of victory expanding until she won a blowout in 2024 despite Republicans’ nationwide success at the ballot box.”

As of April 29, 2025, The Cook Political Report rated the 2026 general for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District as Solid Democratic, Inside Elections rated it Lean Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Likely Democratic.

As of April 29, 2025, 14 members of the U.S. Congress—five senators and nine representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.

Of the nine representatives—four Democrats and five Republicans—not seeking re-election:

• One Democrat is retiring from public office.
• Four—three Democrats and one Republican—are running for the U.S. Senate.
• Four—all Republicans—are running for governor.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were eight retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 11 in 2022, five in 2020, and seven in 2018.

From January 2011 and to now, Ballotpedia followed 361 announcements from Senate and House members who announced they would not seek re-election. January had seen the highest number of announcements of any month at 69. The fewest announcements—12—happened in June.