A series of primaries across the Upper Midwest resulted in significant victories for the Democratic Party's progressive wing on Tuesday night, with a key race in Wisconsin still undecided. In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig in a closely watched contest between the party's progressive and establishment factions. Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar also secured a primary victory in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, adding to her previous successes despite challenges from well-funded opponents.
The outcome in Wisconsin remains uncertain, where State Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is competing to become the Democratic nominee for governor. Hong has received support from prominent progressives, including Reps. Omar and Ro Khanna. Her campaign platform includes proposals to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour, guarantee paid leave, and impose a moratorium on new AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny for past social media posts advocating for police defunding, which she now claims to no longer support. The Wisconsin race is seen as a critical test for the progressive movement in a key battleground state.