The November ballot is now set in the U.S. Senate race, with the two major party candidates bringing vastly different approaches.
DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has grown up in Minnesota politics, with a campaign built on grassroots organizing. Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has nationwide name recognition and is a favorite of national Republican circles.
The differences between their campaigns were clearly visible in how the two watched the returns Tuesday.
Flanagan held a party at the iconic Minneapolis music venue First Avenue, with volunteers, staff and many DFL supporters packed onto the dance floor, chanting “Peggy! Peggy! Peggy!” when the race was called for her.
Tafoya held a private event and spoke to reporters afterwards by phone.
"My team and I are thrilled tonight. Our message resonated loud and clear all across Minnesota,” she said Tuesday night.
It's not just how they celebrated primary night. Tafoya and Flanagan have very different backgrounds, experiences and audiences.
Flanagan has spent her career working in and around Minnesota politics — as a Minneapolis school board member, as a state legislator and as lieutenant governor. She’s a prominent and well-known figure in the DFL.
Tafoya, on the other hand, is new to politics but is well-known through her work as a national sports reporter. As a candidate, she has been a frequent guest on Fox News and has much more of a national presence.
"This really opens up the map, right? Michele Tafoya is a very attractive candidate who has a lot of backing,” said Republican strategist Amy Fredrickson on MPR News Wednesday. She said Tafoya is well-liked by national Republicans and she expects both parties to pour resources into the race.
"I think we're going to see money coming in, the likes that we have not seen in a statewide race, certainly in a U.S. Senate race for maybe decades,” Fredrickson said.
The two candidates began going after pinch points right away after their primary victories.
Flanagan, who says the war in Iran is illegal and must end, brought up past comments from Tafoya on rising costs due to the war.
"And an illegal war that's costing us billions? Michele Tafoya said, ‘Yes, sir, Mr. President.’” Flanagan said. “And when people said the war was driving gas prices too high, she told Minnesotans, and I quote, 'keep a stiff upper lip' and 'take one less trip to Starbucks.' Woof!"
When asked on MPR’s Morning Edition whether she would vote to end the war with Iran, Tafoya was non-committal.
"We need to make sure that they never get a nuclear weapon,” Tafoya said. “We need to protect and stand with our allies in the region, and I'm prepared to do that without a ‘forever war’ and boots on the ground."
Tafoya leaned in to what will clearly be her central attack on Flanagan.
"It doesn't matter if I'm in Moorhead or Eyota or Orono or St. Paul, people want to know what's going to happen with this fraud,” Tafoya said. “They are angry. We've all been stolen from. It happened on her watch, and she hasn't said a thing about it."
Often in a midterm, the president's popularity plays an outsized role, and Donald Trump's has been slumping. Flanagan connected Tafoya to the president early and often in her speech.
"We already have too many spineless 'Yes, sir!' Senators who won't stand up to Donald Trump,” Flanagan said. “Minnesota, we are not going to send him another one. And Michele Tafoya may not understand what you're going through, but I do."
Tafoya, who urged Trump not to run for a second term, said she's not in lock step with him.
"I am running to call balls and strikes to say I think the president is right on this one. I think the president is wrong on this one,” she said. “And I have the spine to stand up and say those things."
Former DFL legislative leader Ryan Winkler said that's unlikely to persuade voters looking for a check on the White House.
"I think the national environment this year will not be favorable to the Republicans, and there is very close to zero chance that Minnesota will be an exception to that national trend,” he said.
With a national spotlight on this race, Fredrickson said she expects money to pour into advertising.
“Buckle up, because those ads are not going to be soon off your TVs,” she said.
