Takeaways from the latest debate between Democratic Senate hopefuls Angie Craig, Peggy Flanagan

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan traded critiques of one another Monday during their second debate as the duo face off in a competitive and sometimes acidic Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Minnesota Public Radio politics editor Brian Bakst asked Craig and Flanagan about President Trump’s war in Iran, artificial intelligence regulations, immigration, healthcare and fraud in Minnesota’s safety net programs.

Craig and Flanagan agree on most issues, from providing undocumented immigrants a path to legal status, banning corporate campaign contributions and ending the president’s war in Iran.

The pair began trading jabs at each other almost immediately, however. Here are some takeaways from the debate, just weeks out from the Aug. 11 election for the Democratic nomination:

No Gov. Walz endorsement

While Gov. Tim Walz hasn’t endorsed his own lieutenant governor, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz endorsed Craig on Monday.

Walz and Flanagan reportedly had a falling out after Walz’s failed bid for vice president that has lingered.

Flanagan said Walz has been clear that he’s not going to endorse in the race and said she wasn’t surprised by the first lady’s endorsement.

Flanagan noted that she has many endorsements from Minnesota progressives, including Sen. Tina Smith — who currently holds the Senate seat and is not seeking reelection — and Reps. Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum.

Fraud fight

The testiest moment of the debate came when Craig criticized Flanagan for failing to take accountability for the rampant fraud in state programs, which has led to investigations of everything from Medicaid and autism programs to child nutrition.

“It pisses me off that you completely put all of the responsibility on the governor of Minnesota when you were the No. 2 elected leader,” Craig said. The Republican Senate candidate will run on rooting out fraud, meaning that Flanagan’s proximity to the issue will be a liability, Craig added. 

Flanagan responded that Craig was repeating Republican talking points.

“Congresswoman Craig literally votes with Republicans more than any other Minnesota Democrat,” Flanagan said.

Both agree that Democrats need to take the Senate

Although the pair has criticized each other for past votes and who is donating to their campaigns, Craig and Flanagan said they would support the person who wins the primary and call for unity within the party.

“The most important thing in this election is that we beat Republicans,” Craig said.

Both stick to past critiques

Flanagan continued to tie Craig to corporate campaign donors and the pro-Israel group AIPAC. She argued that Minnesotans want a Democrat who will advocate for bold changes.

“With the corporate PAC money that is coming into this race … you have to ask yourself, who does Congresswoman Craig stand with?” Flanagan said. “I stand with the people of Minnesota. I will be beholden only to you.”

Craig argued that she is the most electable in November, citing her ability to work with Republicans, while Flanagan’s place in the Walz administration and its failure to catch the fraud sooner will hobble her in a general election.

“The lieutenant governor has a specific vulnerability on fraud,” Craig said. “We have to fight Trump. I know how to do that, but we also have to be able to reach across the aisle to get things done.”