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A series of closely watched primaries across the Upper Midwest delivered key victories for the Democratic Partyโs progressive wing Tuesday night โ with one major test still hanging in the balance in battleground Wisconsin.
Minnesota was among the clearest signs of progressive strength, with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan winning the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith, while progressive “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar secured another primary victory in her overwhelmingly blue Minneapolis-area district.
Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig in a closely watched clash between the partyโs progressive and establishment wings. Flanagan drew support from prominent figures on the left, while Craig had the backing of several leading establishment Democrats.
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The 2026 midterms will determine control of the House and Senate, shaping President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda during the final two years of his term. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, progressive “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary in Minnesotaโs 5th Congressional District, securing another victory for one of the most prominent members of the Houseโs progressive wing.
Omarโs win adds to a string of primary victories for the congresswoman, who has previously survived well-funded efforts to oust her.
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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is seeking another term in Minnesotaโs heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images)
But the biggest remaining question of the night is in Wisconsin, where Democratic voters are still waiting to learn who will carry the partyโs banner in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.
State Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is seeking to extend the progressive leftโs string of victories in one of the nationโs most closely divided battleground states, where Democrats are fighting to keep control of the governorโs mansion.
Hong, a 37-year-old former chef and single mother, has drawn backing from nationally known progressives, including Reps. Omar and Ro Khanna of California.
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Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in one of Tuesday nightโs most closely watched primaries. (Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She is running on a platform that includes raising Wisconsinโs minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour, guaranteed paid leave and a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers.
Hong has also faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police, positions she now says she no longer supports.
With most of Tuesdayโs marquee contests decided, Wisconsin stands as the nightโs biggest remaining test of whether the progressive left can carry its momentum into one of the nationโs premier battleground states.
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