DFL Rep. Angie Craig raised the most money of any Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate during the second quarter of the year. However, Craig’s amount, $2.64 million, was closely followed by Republican Michele Tafoya, who raised $2.62 million during the same period.
Those figures vastly outpace the fundraising hauls of Craig and Tafoya’s primary opponents.
In the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, Tafoya is competing against former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and former NBA player Royce White. Schwarze is the Republican-endorsed candidate in the race.
According to campaign finance reports released this month, Tafoya raised $2.62 million in Q2 of this year and spent $2.4 million during the same period. As of June 30, the former sports broadcaster has $2.08 million in cash on hand.
Meanwhile, Schwarze raised just $291,370 in Q2 and spent $303,576 during that period. Schwarze had $211,221 in the bank as of June 30. White’s numbers were lower, raising just $83,615 in Q2 and spending $118,187. White had $48,231 in the bank on June 30.
Tafoya’s massive fundraising lead further adds to her status as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination. In addition to her cash advantage, a June poll from KSTP/SurveyUSA found Tafoya led the GOP field with 36% while White was at 15% and Schwarze was at 7%.
In the race for the DFL nomination for U.S. Senate, Craig is competing against current Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. The primary contest between the two Democrats has grown bitter in recent weeks as the pair have traded political attacks.
According to campaign finance reports for Craig, the four-term congresswoman raised $2.64 million in Q2 of this year and spent $2.5 million during the same period. As of June 30, Craig had $5.03 million in cash on hand.
Flanagan, who has served as lieutenant governor alongside Gov. Tim Walz since 2019, took in $1.39 million in Q2 of this year and spent $975,337 during the same period. Flanagan had $1.56 million in the bank as of June 30.
Despite Craig’s cash advantage, the DFL primary appears to be much closer than the GOP primary. The KSTP/SurveyUSA poll from June found Craig had just a five-point lead over Flanagan with Craig at 41%, Flanagan at 36%, and 18% undecided.
During the course of the DFL primary, Flanagan has attacked Craig for voting for the Laken Riley Act while Craig has charged that Flanagan could lose to a Republican in the general election due to her ties to Minnesota’s ongoing fraud problem.
Both the GOP and DFL primary elections for U.S. Senate will occur on Aug. 11, but early voting is already underway.
Republican U.S. Senate candidates
- Michele Tafoya — Q2 fundraising: $2.62 million — Cash on hand: $2.08 million
- Adam Schwarze — Q2 fundraising: $291k — Cash on hand: $211k
- Royce White — Q2 fundraising: $83k — Cash on hand: $48k
DFL U.S. Senate candidates
- Angie Craig — Q2 fundraising: $2.64 million — Cash on hand: $5.03 million
- Peggy Flanagan — Q2 fundraising: $1.39 million — Cash on hand: $1.56 million
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
