Progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Democratic Senate primary

Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig, NBC News projects, in yet another nominating contest that exposed Democratic ideological divides.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has won the Democratic primary for the Senate in Minnesota, NBC News projects, notching another major victory for her party’s progressive wing.

Flanagan defeated moderate Rep. Angie Craig in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, who endorsed Flanagan along with Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and other progressive leaders. She would be the first Native American woman in the Senate if she is elected in November.

“This entire campaign has been about the many versus the money,” Flanagan told NBC News’ “Meet the Press Now” on the eve of the primary. Craig and her allies combined to spend nearly $20 million on the airwaves, while Flanagan and her allies spent $4.7 million, according to AdImpact.

“I’m running to make sure that people can afford the lives they want to live,” Flanagan said. “I want to get big money out of our politics, and I want to fight for things like ‘Medicare for All’ so that people aren’t just paying for health insurance but actually have access to health care.”

Flanagan criticized Craig, who is in her fourth term, for not standing up enough to President Donald Trump’s administration, which Craig disputed. Craig, who held a competitive House seat in the Twin Cities metro area, had argued that she was the best candidate to win in November.