Watch: Flanagan Quickly Throws Walz Under the Bus on Fraud Scandals, but Tafoya Is Hot on Her Heels

Though the Michigan Democrat Senate and Wisconsin Democrat gubernatorial primary races captured the attention of political junkies across America, another interesting Senate primary that played out on the Left took place in Minnesota.

It featured woke Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a far-left candidate, and Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), who the media portrayed as the more “moderate" candidate, and who Flanagan succeeded in shaming over her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act. Both were vying for the seat currently held by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), who opted not to run for reelection.

Flanagan easily won the primary on Tuesday, after portraying herself as the anti-ICE, anti-Trump candidate, and emphasizing her Native American heritage.

Going into the general election campaign season, Flanagan would love nothing more than to keep the focus front and center on ICE and President Trump, but in a Wednesday morning MS NOW interview, Morning Joe co-host Willy Geist pressed her on whether she felt any responsibility for the rampant fraud that has been and continues to be uncovered in her home state.

She immediately threw Gov. Tim Walz (D) under the bus, putting all the blame on him and seemingly trying to take credit for some of the successful prosecutions before attempting to pivot back to Trump. Notice how quickly she tries to move on from talking about the fraud scandals. She's clearly very uncomfortable talking about it:

GEIST: Do you deserve any responsibility though, Lt Gov, for those fraud schemes that have taken place in your state over the past several years?

FLANAGAN: The governor says the buck stops with him. More should have been sooner. And I agree. pic.twitter.com/LRPAxEFiKz
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 13, 2026

The problem for Flanagan, though, is that it's not going to be that easy for her to distance herself from the fraud schemes that happened under her and Walz's watch, something GOP Senate nominee Michele Tafoya is reminding voters of:

Peggy Flanagan did not talk about fraud one time last night. Why? Because she does not care.
She does not care that billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen on her watch as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor.
She does not care that families did not receive the services they needed because Feeding Our Future fraudsters became rich.
All Peggy Flanagan cares about is getting promoted to the U.S. Senate.

Peggy Flanagan did not talk about fraud one time last night. Why? Because she does not care.

She does not care that billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen on her watch as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor.

She does not care that families did not receive the services they needed… pic.twitter.com/PHquEgnKMa
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) August 13, 2026

There was also this message from Tafoya:

“Notably, Flanagan did not mention fraud during her victory speech Tuesday night…”
Peggy may not want to talk about fraud, but I will.
The lieutenant governor was second-in-command while billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen. She refuses to take responsibility and is now asking Minnesotans to promote her to the U.S. Senate.
Minnesota deserves better than Peggy Flanagan.

“Notably, Flanagan did not mention fraud during her victory speech Tuesday night…”

Peggy may not want to talk about fraud, but I will.

The lieutenant governor was second-in-command while billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen. She refuses to take responsibility and is now…
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) August 12, 2026

She's also labeled Flanagan as "Tim Walz's mini-me," which is a great description, considering his unpopularity in Minnesota.

Put this one on your list of races to watch this fall. The last Republican Senator in Michigan was Norm Coleman, who served from 2003 to 2009, and with any luck and a relentless ground game, perhaps Tafoya will be the next one.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

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