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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

The next big races between moderates and progressives are in pivotal Midwestern states

Flanagan argues that corporate special interests are influencing the Minnesota Senate primary.

The next big races between moderates and progressives are in pivotal Midwestern states
Image · WDIV

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Outlet credibilityWDIV82/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 4, 2026

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Cites Associated Press

This article cites Associated Press as its original publisher. ChamberLight has not verified that it is a republication, so the scores are WDIV's own.

Associated Press95/100 HIGH

347 stories · 94.5–95.2 · updated Oct 12, 2026

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WDIVcites Associated Press
Jul 13, 2026
tl;dr

The Associated Press examines how upcoming Democratic primaries in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are testing the party’s divide between progressives and moderates. In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are competing for the Senate nomination amid disputes over corporate money, electability and the party’s strategy.

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No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Flanagan in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Flanagan’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Minnesota lieutenant governor and Democratic Senate candidate

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Angie Craig
D · MN-2

Representative and Democratic Senate candidate in Minnesota

Craig's version of this story ↗

Representative and Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration Craig says Democrats must stop

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who backs Flanagan

House Minority Leader who backs Craig

Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan

Former Democratic Senate candidate in Maine

Former Wisconsin lieutenant governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate

Gary C. Peters
D · MI · SEN

Senator retiring from the Michigan seat

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator who backs Flanagan

Tina Smith
D · MN · SEN

Senator vacating the Minnesota seat

ALSO MENTIONED  Francesca Hong, Wisconsin state representative and Democratic gubernatorial candidate; Joseph McCarthy, Former Wisconsin senator mentioned as a historical example; Sara Rodriguez, Wisconsin lieutenant governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate

Part of a bigger story

15 OUTLETS
Flanagan and Craig Dispute Corporate Money in Senate Primary

Outlets agree that Flanagan and Angie Craig are competing in Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary and disputing corporate money and influence. They place the race among broader Midwestern contests over progressive and moderate approaches, including questions of electability and party strategy. Center outlets frame the primary as part of a broader test of moderate and progressive Democrats, emphasizing electability and party strategy while presenting claims from both candidates. Right-leaning outlets take much the same approach, also treating the race as a test of the two factions and emphasizing electability.

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