Democratic Senator Announces Retirement

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said Thursday that she’s not running for re-election in 2026.

“I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026. This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country,” Smith said.

“Thank you so much, Minnesota,” she added.

WATCH:

I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.

This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country.

Thank you so much, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/3sWVib8nKJ

— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) February 13, 2025

Per MPR News:

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday she will retire after next year, opting against a 2026 bid for another six-year term and putting a Democratic-held seat in play in an increasingly competitive Upper Midwest.

The decision comes after Smith had been conveying her plan to run again for a seat she has held since 2018. She has won two prior Senate elections, including a 5-percentage-point victory when last on the ballot in 2020. She had more than $700,000 in her campaign account to start the year.

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“I have loved my job as United States Senator, and also, after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family,” Smith said in a video announcing her decision. Smith added, “This decision is not political, it is entirely personal, but it’s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever.”

She said she would put her all into the final two years of the term and expressed confidence that a fellow Democrat from a “deep bench of political talent” in Minnesota would take her place after the next election.

According to POLITICO, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is considering a run for the U.S. Senate after Smith announced her retirement.

JUST IN: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz considering a run for Senate next year after Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement – POLITICO pic.twitter.com/KyqWRh6ll5

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 13, 2025

From POLITICO:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is considering a run for Senate next year, according to a person close to the governor who was granted anonymity to describe internal deliberations.

His consideration of the seat comes after Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement from the blue-leaning battleground on Thursday. Walz, the former vice presidential nominee, could also run for reelection as governor in 2026.

Already on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan kicked off a bid with a post on social media: “I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I’ll make a formal announcement later this month.”

Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) didn’t rule out a run, either. “Congresswoman Omar will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of the Senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota,” a spokesperson said.

Smith, who has served in the Senate since 2018, said in a video announcing her decision that “after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family.”

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