Newsweek said Minnesota has “emerged as a surprising state where Republicans stand a chance to flip a Senate seat,” with one week left before the 2026 midterms. The magazine posted the claim on X on October 28, 2026, linking to its coverage.
The matchup
According to Newsweek, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya, a retired broadcaster, are vying for the seat. Newsweek framed Minnesota as long-standing Democratic territory, noting the state last elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and has voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1976.
Why it could flip, per Newsweek
Newsweek reported there were “three key indicators” suggesting Republicans have a chance to flip the seat. David Schultz, a professor of political science and legal studies at Hamline University, told Newsweek, “The Republicans have their best shot in 20 years at winning the state,” citing “corruption” issues and “Democratic Party fatigue” as factors. Schultz also said he would not be surprised if Tafoya won.
National backdrop (Newsweek’s framing)
Newsweek described Republicans as trying to fend off a “blue wave,” while linking voter concerns to the economy, inflation, rising fuel costs, and the Iran war. The outlet also said Trump’s approval ratings were sliding at the time. These characterizations are Newsweek’s.
What others are saying
The Gateway Pundit described the race as highly competitive and said Republicans had started investing resources in Minnesota. Separately, a Fox & Friends segment posted on October 28, 2026, asserted that a “fraud issue” was a driving factor, with a speaker claiming Minnesota officials had allowed unspecified problems “since 2011.” Those are allegations aired on the program; no evidence was provided in the material reviewed here.
What’s missing
The Newsweek post referenced “three key indicators,” but the specific indicators and any underlying polling were not included in the excerpts provided. The claims about alleged fraud in Minnesota were presented in a TV clip and have not been independently corroborated in this document.
