Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) announced she will retire from the Senate in 2026, forcing Democrats to defend another seat in the midterm elections. Minnesota is a Democratic-leaning state, with Smith winning a full term in 2020 by 5 points against her Republican challenger.

Minnesota’s Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2026, a decision that could spark a competitive Democratic primary as the party faces a challenging Senate map next year.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith will not seek reelection in 2026, setting up an open race in the blue-leaning battleground state. Smith, who has served in the Senate since 2018, said in a video announcing her decision that “after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family.”