U.S. Sen. Tina Smith's announcement that she won't run again in 2026 could tee up a high-profile battle royale featuring some of Minnesota's biggest political stars. The big picture: Open statewide seats are rare — the last time a U.

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced Thursday she will not run for reelection in 2026. CBS News political reporter Hunter Woodall joins "America Decides" to discuss what Smith's retirement means for the Senate map in the midterms.

Minnesota has its first open-seat Senate race since 2006. Many candidates are giving it a look and both parties say they’re well-positioned to win.

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15, 2021. The Minnesota senator announced Thursday she won’t seek re-election in 2026, and cites wanting to spend more time with family as the reason for her decision.

Flanagan, who is from St. Louis Park, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2002, where she studied American Indian studies and child psychology. She also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2015 until she became lieutenant governor.

Democrats got their second major Senate retirement in as many weeks, with Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith announcing she wouldn’t run for reelection in 2026.

Former VP nominee Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, is exploring running in 2026 for the U.S. Senate seat that Democrat Tina Smith is vacating.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced on Thursday that she will not run for reelection next year.

Democratic vice-presidential nominee also could run for another term as the state’s governor.