Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, a Democrat, said on Thursday that she would not seek re-election in 2026, creating another open seat for her party to defend next year as it faces a long-shot fight to seize back the chamber.
Ms. Smith, 66, cited a desire to spend more time with her four grandchildren and her 94-year-old father. She said her decision was “entirely personal” and unrelated to politics.
“I have decided not to run for re-election to the United States Senate in 2026,” she said in a video posted on social media. “After 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family.”
Ms. Smith, who had served as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, was elevated to the Senate by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2018 after her predecessor, former Senator Al Franken, resigned over accusations of sexual harassment, which he denied. She won Senate contests in 2018 and 2020, and was considered a favorite to retain the seat in 2026 had she sought a second full term.
Ms. Smith’s departure means Democrats will have to defend two open Senate seats next year. Last month, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan said he would not seek re-election, though that seat is considered far more competitive than Minnesota’s.
Republicans hold a 53-to-47 advantage in the Senate. Democrats are seen as having few pickup opportunities beyond the seats held by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Minnesota has no shortage of ambitious Democrats who might consider a run for Ms. Smith’s seat. They include Keith Ellison, the state attorney general; Representative Angie Craig; former Representative Dean Phillips; Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul; and Gov. Tim Walz, who was the party’s nominee for vice president last year.
Minnesota has not sent a Republican to the Senate since Norm Coleman won election in 2002. No Republican has won a statewide contest in Minnesota since Tim Pawlenty was re-elected as governor in 2006.
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