Peggy Flanagan

Peggy Flanagan earned a bachelor's degree in American Indian studies and child psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2002.[1]

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Campaign websiteFlanagan's campaign website stated the following:I grew up thinking that the bottom could fall out at any moment. My single mom and I relied on food stamps to keep food on the table. Medicaid was my healthcare as a child. Now, as Lt. Governor of Minnesota, I’m living proof that leaders can improve people’s lives when they invest in them.But today, the system is rigged against working people, and leaders in Washington have failed to respond. We need leaders with courage to take on the powerful special interests that stop us from making change. I’m running for Senate because I believe folks deserve more from their elected leaders. Leaders who truly listen, understand their needs, and have the qualifications and experience to deliver.Trump is seriously threatening our democracy, and Democrats’ focus cannot be to simply make life only a little less lousy for folks. We must recognize that this is not normal and stand together. We’ve got to fight for more.I’m focused on building a fair economy that gives people the opportunity to afford the lives they want to live–for themselves and their families.Together we can take on tough fights and win. It’s something I’ve done my entire career, and I’m ready to take that fight to Washington to deliver a future that works for Minnesotans, not against them.Ending Corruption: Make Washington work for Minnesotans, not special interestsToo many politicians in Washington have forgotten who they represent–the constituents who sent them there to govern. Donald Trump is the worst offender, abusing the most powerful office in the world to line his own pockets, unlawfully target and punish his personal enemies, and destroy programs that everyday Americans rely on. Our system is rigged so that special interests who fund campaigns and hire legions of lobbyists ensure the government only works for them. Cronyism–on both sides of the aisle–has made Washington work for billionaires and greedy corporations instead of Minnesotans.Peggy isn’t taking a dime of corporate PAC money because greedy corporations and special interests have too much influence in Washington already. Peggy will be accountable to Minnesotans. If Washington is going to focus on making families’ lives easier, we need to end the onslaught of corporate and dark money in elections, reverse Citizens United, and hold the powerful to higher ethical standards.Peggy recognizes that Trump has unleashed an assault on our democracy and demands that Congress immediately pass laws to protect free and fair elections.In the Senate, Peggy will fight to ban corporate money in our elections and require disclosure of all donors. D.C. won’t work for people until we get corporate and dark money out of our democracy.Instead of fighting for regular folks, Congress passes bills that give corporations and the wealthiest Americans special treatment: from tax loopholes to limits on what they pay into Social Security and Medicare. Peggy will fight to stop this special treatment and unrig our system for you and me. Peggy supports banning stock trading for anyone elected to federal office, including members of Congress and the president. Minnesotans need public servants who are focused on serving their constituents, not their stock portfolios. Peggy supports banning elected and appointed officials from lobbying and reforming the Supreme Court.Healthcare: Everyone should be able to access and afford the care they needEarlier this year, Peggy met Bentley and his mom, Kris, in Central Minnesota. Bentley is one of the hundreds of thousands of children in Minnesota who rely on Medicaid as their health insurance–just like Peggy did. Bentley spent the first four months of his life in the hospital NICU where he was born. He underwent countless procedures and treatments to keep him alive. He’s now 14 years old, and Bentley’s mom Kris is fighting to keep her son healthy and happy every day.But now that Medicaid is under attack from Donald Trump and Republicans, Kris is worried about her child’s future because she knows they won’t be able to afford the care Bentley needs.Will he get to see his doctors? Will they have to take out a second mortgage or face bankruptcy?​Peggy believes people deserve health care, not just health insurance. She has experience with the health insurance system from all angles: As an executive director supporting employees, as a policymaker delivering investments and reforms to improve healthcare access, and as a mom who continues to fight with insurance companies about getting her daughter the inhalers she needs. During her career, Peggy has won tough battles to fund and expand access to care. She’s not tethered to the special interests plaguing our healthcare system and will fight to ensure doctors and patients get to make decisions about their care.Peggy believes healthcare is a human right and will fight for Medicare for All, ensuring providers, clinics, and hospitals have the resources to give people the care they deserve. She knows we need to consider the impact on workers across the board as we make this change. Until that plan passes, Peggy will fight hard to expand access to care and rein in insurance company greed.Peggy believes it’s time to ban insurance companies from using prior authorization processes for care. Too many Minnesotans have sat on the phone and begged their insurance company to cover a prescription medication, a treatment, or a surgery. A stranger behind a desk or an AI algorithm shouldn’t be able to deny you care your doctor prescribed.More than a million Minnesotans, including people with disabilities, seniors, and children, rely on Medicaid. The providers they see, including rural hospitals, mental health clinics, and nursing homes, rely on Medicaid. Peggy will fight to restore the inhumane cuts to Minnesotans’ healthcare made by Donald Trump and Republicans.Seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid face serious gaps in coverage. Peggy will fight to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include essential healthcare like vision, dental, and hearing.America’s healthcare system is broken. Donald Trump and Republicans have made it worse by cutting Medicaid for millions of Americans, eliminating tax credits that make healthcare cheaper for 90,000 Minnesotans, and defunding critical research into diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Peggy will fight to restore this vital funding and build a better system. Prescription drugs are outrageously expensive because Washington politicians have let Big Pharma set the rules for too long. Peggy believes Medicare and Medicaid must negotiate the cost of all prescription drugs and force Big Pharma to lower its prices.Peggy supports solutions like payment and coverage parity so that your insurance company covers mental healthcare like they cover your trip to the doctor. She also supports expanding the mental healthcare workforce, improving access in settings like schools, so people get care when and where they need it.Peggy has championed maternal health in Minnesota and will tackle the needs of expecting moms at a federal level by expanding access to prenatal and postnatal care to cut rates of maternal mortality and increase healthy births, especially for Black and Native mothers.Affording Your Life: Putting more money in Minnesotans' pocketsPeggy has a proven record of fighting and winning policies to support Minnesota’s workers and business owners. For example, when a long-time employee of Sarah’s small business broke both of her arms, Sarah didn’t know what to do. Her business couldn’t afford private medical leave insurance, but she knew her employee couldn’t go without her paycheck. Sarah’s choice to continue to pay her employee while she recovered came with personal and financial consequences. Sarah lived off credit cards and fell behind on her mortgage for the store and her home. Because of her experience, Sarah joined other small business owners and joined Peggy in the fight for Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Peggy supports an America where one good job is enough. One job that pays your monthly bills, lets you put some money in the bank and even take a vacation. We’ve done it in our country before, and we can do it again. But in today’s economy, prices are going up, wages are staying flat, and it’s harder for small businesses to compete with large corporations and support their employees. While corporate profits are at an all-time high, families are struggling to make ends meet.Peggy has spent her career fighting for and delivering wins that help families afford the lives they want to live. In 2014, Peggy co-chaired the campaign to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage and index it to inflation–and won. She also helped lead the fight for Paid Family and Medical Leave, working for years to pass Minnesota’s nation-leading program to level the playing field for small businesses and ensure no one has to choose between taking care of their baby and their paycheck. She will bring that fight and success to Washington.Peggy co-chaired the Raise the Wage campaign in Minnesota and supports a $17 federal minimum wage tied to inflation to keep up with the increased costs of food, housing, and everyday essentials. Peggy knows that one job should be enough. Instead of cutting deals to further enrich shareholders, we need lawmakers who will stand with workers to get paid what they deserve. Peggy supports national paid family and medical leave so families can take care of each other without losing a paycheck, small businesses can offer the same benefits to their employees as large corporations, and every employer can keep their workers on the job. Small businesses need programs in place that allow them to compete with larger corporations, attract top talent, and grow. Peggy believes the government should invest in small business loans and level the playing field so small businesses don’t pay a higher tax rate than giant corporations like Amazon.Peggy supports universal childcare. She knows investing in high quality programs in the places and spaces families choose helps kids learn and grow and benefits families’ budgets.As the mom of a middle schooler, Peggy knows it’s more expensive than ever to raise a kid. She supports cutting taxes for middle and working class Minnesotans by expanding the Child Tax Credit to give family budgets a boost and lift kids out of poverty.Peggy will fight to protect Social Security now and for future retirees by ensuring that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share into the system. By expanding the income cap and source for contributions, Social Security will continue to provide benefits seniors can count on for decades to come. Ripping away SNAP, Meals on Wheels, and WIC from children, seniors, and low-income Americans to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy is inhumane. Peggy will fight to reverse the cuts the Trump Administration made to food assistance and make sure that everyone has enough to eat.Agriculture: Protecting Minnesota's farmersPeggy cares about farm families and the health of our agriculture sector. For generations, our farmers have been on the frontlines of agricultural innovation and feeding the world. Today, whether it’s tariffs, unpredictable markets, or extreme weather, the life of a farmer is more unpredictable than ever. Farmers and their families deserve a government that does everything in its power to provide market and infrastructure stability today and ensure that future generations can choose to farm their family’s land. Peggy has traveled the state as a legislator and as Lt. Governor, learning from and working hand in hand with Minnesota’s farmers. She helped deliver increased funding for Minnesota’s Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative, championed Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and expanded much-needed mental health resources for farmers. Peggy will fight for markets for our farmers. Minnesota farmers have spent decades building relationships and cultivating new markets abroad. Peggy has joined Minnesota producers on these trips and knows the importance of foreign markets to our state’s economy. Republicans in Congress are giving a middle finger to Minnesota farmers and the American people. She will fight to reverse the damage caused by Trump’s tariffs and prevent him from destroying export markets that may never return.Congress hasn’t passed a full, five-year farm bill since 2018. Peggy understands the importance of stability to farm families and our ag industry. She will work to pass a comprehensive, five-year Farm Bill with strong titles for Minnesota, including support for producers and investments in the research and innovation Minnesota leads on.Peggy believes that when farmers invest their hard-earned money in equipment, they should have the right to repair it themselves or choose their own mechanic. They should not be forced to work through the manufacturer. Peggy wants to let farmers call the shots and have the opportunity to keep work and money in their local community. Peggy supports biofuels. She appreciates that farmers supply inputs for higher-value energy products and understands the importance of this additional market.Sustainable aviation fuel is an example of what happens when the government, farmers, and the private sector partner together and have a vision for the future. Peggy knows we must continue investing in SAF and leverage existing commodities to drive new technologies.Climate: Protecting our planet & creating a green economyWe only have one planet, and we must ensure it’s livable for future generations and address climate change. The innovation, development, and deployment of renewables are critical to energy security in the 21st century and to mitigating the extreme weather impacting us all. Peggy has always been a champion for protecting Minnesota’s natural resources while recognizing the need for progress. During her term, Minnesota made major investments in climate and clean energy, while committing to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. These investments also mean a new sector with high-paying, union jobs across the state. Peggy knows Minnesota is a place that innovates and is a national leader in regenerative agriculture practices, clean heat, and other ways to decarbonize.Peggy believes we need to take action to fight climate change, protect our planet, and invest in climate adaptation.In this country, we continue to consume more electricity every year. Peggy opposes the Trump Administration’s rollback of investments in clean energy and supports clean energy solutions like wind and solar that also create new union jobs in all areas of our state. Peggy supports the development of new technologies like biofuels including Sustainable Aviation Fuels, and green steel and green ammonia from green hydrogen. Minnesota’s water is one of our great resources, and we should never take it for granted. Peggy knows that we need environmental groups, industry, labor, and farmers working together to protect our water from pollution and invasive species. Peggy believes there is more to do to hold people and companies accountable when they refuse to comply with environmental standards that are designed to protect our children and natural resources.Economic Security For Our SeniorsA lot of people in America know the phrase “respect your elders,” but today, we have forgotten what it looks like to show them respect and care. Seniors are the fastest-growing population experiencing homelessness. Millions worry about hunger. They are the target of scams by criminals after their money and politicians looking to cut their healthcare. We are the nation that stood up and created Social Security in 1935, then stood up again to create Medicare 30 years later. As a nation, we must redefine what it looks like to respect our elders so they can age with dignity.Raised by a single mother, Peggy spent a lot of time growing up with her grandma and aunties while her mom worked. She has witnessed firsthand the incredible contributions seniors continue to make in our society. Peggy has been a steadfast advocate at the state level for programs including Medicaid and Meals on Wheels. In the U.S. Senate, she will fight to ensure that seniors don’t just get by, but that they have what it takes to live a full and dignified life and are able to retire. At a time of rising costs, seniors living on fixed incomes deserve every additional dollar they can get. Peggy supports eliminating the tax on Social Security to expand the personal budgets of seniors. Medicaid is the primary coverage for two of every three nursing home residents. Peggy supports reversing the cuts to Medicaid in Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to ensure we don’t jeopardize the healthcare of seniors to pay for billionaire tax cuts.Until recently, supporting Medicare was an issue that we all agreed on. In the Senate, Peggy will fight back against cuts to Medicare and Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to use AI for prior authorization to dictate what care seniors receive, as opposed to the doctors who prescribe it. Peggy will fight to protect Social Security now and for future retirees by ensuring that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share into the system. By expanding the income cap and source for contributions, Social Security will continue to provide benefits seniors can count on for decades to come. Seniors and people with disabilities are hurting because Donald Trump and Elon Musk gutted the Social Security Administration (SSA). Peggy believes that we must invest in the Social Security Administration to ensure that people get the answers and the services they need quickly-at local Social Security offices, on the phone, or on the internet.The high cost of prescription drugs hurts seniors’ ability to age with dignity. Peggy believes Medicare must negotiate the price of all prescription drugs, not just a handful. Cheaper prescriptions will ensure more money is kept in the pockets of our seniors.According to Meals on Wheels America, 13 million seniors worry about having enough food. This is unacceptable. Peggy will fight to protect and expand SNAP, Meals on Wheels, and other programs, so no senior in Minnesota has to worry about their next meal.Education: From cradle to careerPublic schools, colleges and universities are often some of the largest employers and economic drivers in their community. Thriving schools, where all learners have what they need to be successful, lead to thriving communities. Today, we ask our teachers and schools to carry too high a burden with too little support. And the Trump Administration is causing chaos and playing political games with funding for our students.As a former Minneapolis School Board member, the former Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund–Minnesota, the Lt. Governor of Minnesota, and the mom of a middle schooler, Peggy knows education. During her time as Lt. Governor Minnesota passed a historic increase in funding for public education, including expanding special education seats, and she helped spearhead the universal school meal program to keep kids fed and lower grocery bills for parents, so everyone can focus on what’s most important, learning. She will take these results to Washington to fight for resources for early learning, special education, and career education to level the playing field for children across the state.The Head Start program is an essential part of our childcare infrastructure in Minnesota, serving 12,500 kids each year. Peggy supports not only reversing the cuts made by the Trump Administration, but expanding Head Start for more families so parents can go to work knowing their kids are learning and taken care of in high quality environments. The biggest raise many families get is when their kids start kindergarten, and childcare costs come off their budget–that was the case for Peggy. Peggy supports expanding publicly financed universal Pre-K to get kids into high quality learning environments, and improve family budgets. Access to special education is a right, but access to quality special education has not been realized for far too many kids because the federal government has never lived up to its promise. Peggy believes Congress needs to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.Your zip code should not dictate the quality of your education. Peggy believes parents, teachers, and students should make classroom decisions, and that the federal government should have a larger role in funding K-12 education, without a voucher program, so schools can retain and adequately pay a quality workforce and that students have access to the resources they need while not solely relying on property taxes to make up funding gaps.In many communities, schools go beyond their core education mission and provide services like health and mental healthcare, dental services, nutrition, and after school programming. Peggy supports expanding the Full-Service Community School program to strengthen the communities our kids are growing up in. Peggy was serving as Lt. Governor of Minnesota when she paid off her student loans. Instead of punishing student borrowers, Peggy believes we need to expand opportunities for tuition support and loan forgiveness for people serving in essential public sector roles including teaching and healthcare, especially in rural and underserved communities.Foreign PolicyThe United States has a responsibility to keep Americans secure, expand economic opportunities, and promote democratic values around the world.Yet, the only consistent aspect of Donald Trump’s foreign policy is that he will always put his own money making schemes ahead of American interests. Every day we are losing ground in the fights with our adversaries and losing the trust of our allies–while Trump cozies up todictators and strongmen around the world. Trump said he’d end several conflicts on Day 1. Like always, he didn’t deliver. All the while we see American farmers and industries lose access to resources and markets overseas. This chaos must end. Over the past decade as a state lawmaker and Lt. Governor, Peggy has joined business development and trade missions, become a staunch advocate for our agricultural industry, welcomed foreign dignitaries to Minnesota, and promoted Minnesota as a destination for investment and opportunity. Peggy supports eliminating tariffs that are devastating Minnesota farmers, while maintaining those protections that are vital for industries like Minnesota iron mining, and ensuring that farmers receive aid to support them as we rebuild the agricultural market access Trump has destroyed. Peggy believes that establishing ongoing peace and stability in the Middle East requires a lasting ceasefire and a two-state solution which allows for a secure Israel and Palestinian self-determination. Peggy would have joined Minnesota Senators Smith and Klobuchar in voting to halt offensive weapons sales to Israel. Peggy believes the United States and global partners must surge aid to Gaza and help rebuild the area. Peggy supports rebuilding ties with our NATO allies, and supporting Ukraine in their fight against an unjust invasion by Putin. Trump’s waffling on Russia, and insulting of our allies continues to isolate America in a time of increasing instability. This puts all of us in danger.China has a history of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft. Peggy supports cracking down on foreign actors like China who cheat to undercut American workers and Minnesota businesses.Freedom & Civil RightsOur rights are being eroded: free speech, the right to worship, the right to vote, access to reproductive healthcare, and the choice to live and love who we want are all being undermined by decisions from the Supreme Court and targeted efforts by the Trump Administration. As companies, institutions, and our leaders shrink away from their commitments to protecting and promoting civil rights, Peggy is standing strong in her commitment to compassion and fair treatment of others, rooted in her deep faith. Driven by these values, Peggy has spent her career working to ensure that our government and economic systems protect the rights of all Minnesotans. Peggy believes in the right to free speech and the freedom of assembly and will fight to uphold every American’s constitutional right to self-expression.All eligible voters should have their rights protected. Peggy supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and other policies that restore and protect the democratic processes from voter suppression, election interference, and undue burdens on people who have the right to vote.Peggy will fight to pass the Equality Act so no one, including the LGBTQ2S+ community, can be discriminated against. Your right to choose if and when to have a child should not be determined by where you live. Peggy will work tirelessly to reestablish nationwide access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, contraception, and pre- and post-natal care. Peggy will fight to keep politicians out of doctors’ offices so that healthcare decisions are between patients and their providers. The government has no place deciding who can get what types of healthcare.Due process is the foundation of the American justice system. Peggy will fight to rein in Donald Trump and Kristi Noem’s power to trample due process rights, detain and deport lawful residents–even citizens–and separate children from their parents.Housing: Affording a place to call homeStable, affordable housing gives families the security they need to thrive and provide for future generations. Today, homeownership is out of reach for too many Minnesotans. Whether you are renting a lot for a manufactured home, looking for your first home, or downsizing, greedy corporations are pricing folks out. The lack of development is also making it more difficult to find and afford housing at any price point. We must take action so that good housing is possible for more Minnesotans, and so our kids can afford to rent or own a home wherever they want.When she was a kid, Peggy’s mom relied on federal rental assistance through a Section 8 voucher. Peggy knows the value of stable housing. She also understands how it feels to try to balance the high cost of housing with other basic needs like food and healthcare. As Lt. Governor, Peggy has been a champion for housing investment and affordability. She fought for policies to make it easier for renters and those trying to buy a house to actualize that dream. This work culminated in 2023 with a historic state investment to support down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, housing construction support, and rental assistance for Minnesotans in every region of the state.Housing costs are putting a strain on homeowners and renters alike. We need to ensure people can afford to buy their first home and make sure renters can afford their housing costs.America needs to take bold action to build more housing and help people upgrade existing homes to bring down costs like utilities and insurance. Peggy supports The Homes Act and taking other bold steps to create more affordable options and good union jobs to get the work done. An increasing number of homes in Minnesota are owned by Wall Street speculators who are outbidding hardworking Minnesota families. Peggy believes we should ban large corporate landlords and hedge funds from purchasing single-family homes. Your home should be a safe and healthy place; Peggy supports increased federal funding to remove lead from pipes and homes to make them safer for all of us. Peggy believes we must address homelessness and the failure of our systems of support. Peggy has long worked to expand access to stable housing and supportive services, which create permanent housing.Immigration: Overhauling our broken immigration systemPeggy’s view on immigration is grounded in her Catholic faith and the belief that one should welcome the stranger, especially those seeking harbor from religious or political persecution. Our country was built by immigrants, and the foundation of our rule of law is due process. The brutal mass deportation Operation Metro Surge exposed the brutality of the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. It’s tearing apart families, destroying communities, and upending our economy. Across Minnesota, federal agents have harassed our immigrant neighbors, illegally detained constitutional observers, created chaos in our schools, and killed Minnesotans. We all deserve better than the chaos of Donald Trump’s approach to immigration.Our current immigration system is broken and for far too long Washington hasn’t been able to fix it. We must have a strong and secure border, but Peggy is clear that a strong border should not keep us from welcoming new people to the United States. Peggy believes that immigrants are not only vital to the success of Minnesota’s