Peggy Flanagan

Peggy Flanagan is the Director of the Native American Leadership Program and the Senior Trainer at Wellstone Action, as of April 2, 2010.

She was also a Minnesota state rep. and is now Lt Governor of Minnesota.

2026 PDA Senate Challenger Endorsements

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Peggy Flanagan, Troy Jackson, Angie Nixon.

Advance Native Political Leadership endorsement

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has received an endorsement from Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund, a national organization committed to increasing Native American representation in politics. If elected, Flanagan would become the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.

“Improving people’s everyday lives through politics becomes possible when everyone gets a seat at the table,” said Peggy Flanagan. “I’m honored to have earned the endorsement of Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund because I believe their mission to have Native representation at every level of government benefits all of us. I didn’t run to be the first Native American woman in the Senate but I think it’s high time it happens, and I know their support will help get me there.”

“Peggy leads with integrity, grounded in her values and a deep love for Minnesota. Peggy knows that true leadership means listening, building trust, and taking bold action rooted in community,” said Anathea Chino, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund. “We are honored to stand with Peggy and are so proud to endorse her for the U.S. Senate — we know she will create thriving futures for all Minnesotans.”

Senate endorsements

In November 2025, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan received endorsements from four additional U.S. senators in her bid for the U.S. Senate, adding to a growing list of national Democratic support in a contested primary.

U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced their backing of Flanagan, bringing her total number of Senate endorsements to seven. They join Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in supporting her campaign.

LeBlanc endorsement

In November 2025, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has endorsed Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a tribal citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, in her campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Sanders’ endorsement adds national progressive support to Flanagan’s bid, which already includes backing from Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund.

In a statement, Judith LeBlanc, executive director of Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund, said Sanders’ endorsement “underscores the broad support for the strong stance she takes on behalf of all working families, whether they are Native or those who were not born on this land.”

LeBlanc said the organization is “proud to endorse Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate,” citing her record as lieutenant governor and her work to “bring people together to get things done on behalf of communities whose needs are not being met.”

“Flanagan’s leadership is urgently needed to address the ongoing attacks on tribal sovereignty, essential government services, and the climate crisis,” LeBlanc said. “Senator Sanders is correct in his assessment that Peggy will take a stand against corporate billionaires to serve working families who have been hit hard by the rising cost of living and the possibility of losing their healthcare.”

LeBlanc added that Flanagan “knows that healthcare for Native communities is a treaty-guaranteed right under the U.S. Constitution, and she believes it is a human right for all — not a privilege for a few.”

“Peggy Flanagan is the right choice for voters who care about our lands, our people, and the future we will leave to our children,” she said.

Leftist endorsements

Flanagan’s Senate candidacy has been endorsed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, former U.S. Senator Al Franken, Attorney General Keith Ellison, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, State Auditor Julie Blaha, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, UFCW Local 663, VoteMama, and numerous state, local, and community leaders. Support also includes members of DFL House leadership, the majority of the legislative Queer Caucus, and five lawmakers from Minnesota’s Second Congressional District.

Wellstone Action

From Pam Costain, July 22, 2018:

Regarding the Governor’s race, I think we have two phenomenal choices in the tickets of Walz/Flanagan and Murphy/Mae-Quade. I am enthusiastically giving my vote to Walz/Flanagan. I met Tim at one of the first Camp Wellstones in Minnesota, the same camp that brought forth such remarkable candidates as Mark Ritchie, Elizabeth Glidden, Andy Luger, Ralph Remington and others. I remember Tim Walz knocked our socks off at that training with his authenticity, his ability to speak to and connect with a broad range of people, his life experience and his humility. Tim was so impressive that we at Wellstone Action used him and his campaign as an example of the politics of conviction in subsequent Wellstone trainings. I have always respected Tim Walz.

Peggy Flanagan is a longtime friend and colleague. We first met during the 2002 Wellstone campaign where she boldly insisted that young Native women’s leadership was the wave of the future. I was impressed with her immediately. Peggy and I worked together for years at Wellstone Action, served together on the Minneapolis School Board and share several dear friends. I admire her courage, her commitment to justice and her savvy organizational skills. The bond between Tim and Peggy is real and bodes well for their ability to govern as a team.

Though I have decided to vote for Tim and Peggy, I want to make clear my tremendous respect for Erin Murphy. She is an outstanding candidate who has worked tirelessly for what she believes, crisscrossing the state and winning the DFL endorsement with her team of amazing organizers. Erin is a skilled politician in the best sense, and she is a wonderful human being. If she becomes the DFL nominee, I will enthusiastically support her and join many friends who are already with her.

Camp Wellstone people

Ralph Remington, Elizabeth Glidden, Melvin Carter, Peggy Flanagan, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz.

Camp Wellstone

Jeremy Kalin August 11, 2024.

A great story about Tim Walz’s first formal step out from the classroom into politics, back in January 2005 when I found myself as the only prior candidate (the only previous “loser”!) in what became a remarkable class in “candidate school” at Camp Wellstone.

Governor Tim Walz, Elizabeth Glidden, Andy Luger, Mark Ritchie, Ralph Remington, Betsy Tate Anderson trainers Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Marcia Louise Avner, Melvin Carter and others…. I mean, come on!!!

It was fun to reminisce to Paul Demko from Politico about that wild time almost 20 years ago, and to see the throughline for so many of us thanks to the Wellstone Family, Jeff Blodgett, Danny Cramer, Rob Richman, Alana Petersen, Pam Costain, Connie Lewis… I could go on and on…

Tim Walz has grown immensely as a leader, orator, candidate and public servant - building on his natural talent and likability - and so much of that is connected to Camp Wellstone and the Wellstone family.

I am so grateful to be a beneficiary myself, and for our country to now benefit, too.

Statue down

By Brad Sigal June 11, 2020 Columbus statue pulled down at Minnesota Capitol.Columbus statue pulled down at Minnesota Capitol.

Saint Paul, MN - On June 10, Native Lives Matter, AIM of Twin Cities and AIM Patrol of Minneapolis led a protest that pulled down the 10-foot tall statue of Christopher Columbus that had stood in front of the Minnesota State Capitol since 1931. A couple hundred people cheered as protesters put a rope around Columbus’s neck and dozens pulled until the statue came crashing down face-first.

In the wake of the mass protests and uprisings calling for justice for George Floyd, racist statues and symbols like the Confederate flag are being taken down around the country. Native American leaders in Minnesota had petitioned for the Columbus statue to be removed for years, making no progress through the system. With mass anti-racist sentiment at a high point, Native American community leaders reached a breaking point and decided to take action.

State Patrol officers clustered to the side as protesters took down the statue, not intervening to try to stop them. After the statue came down, protesters danced around the statue and rallied for about an hour. Many people spit on the downed statue. An American Indian Movement flag was draped over Columbus’s fallen body. Then State Patrol officers moved in to push protesters back as they surrounded the fallen statue until it could be lifted by a large crane and taken away on a flat-bed tow truck. Protesters appealed to the officers to let them take the statue, but the police wouldn’t move.

It’s unclear where the statue was taken and whether they will attempt to put it back up in the same spot, in a different spot, or whether it will be retired. But a statement from Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who is Native American, expressing relief that the statue is no longer there gave a possible signal that it won’t be put back up in front of the capitol.

Minneapolis Riots

In the wake of the Minneapolis riots in May 2020, Keith Ellison held a press conference on May 30 with other "community leaders" where he supported the people who were ostensibly protesting the death of George Floyd, and claimed outside elements were responsible for infiltrating the

"People that are trying to tarnish the reputations of the noble protest for justice are out there trying to mix in with the crowd so that people don't just say 'oh look all those protests are bad, their cause can't be just, they're just out there causing trouble.' ...We know that the noble, just aims of the protestors are righteous and good. But we also know that some evil elements are literally defusing themselves with the protest to destroy and cause arson so the whole community has a low opinion of the protest. Because they are not for justice for Mr. Floyd - They're against it!"

From the article:

"Joining Ellison was a long list of community leaders, as well as Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Some were visibly shaken as the gravity of this week’s events became clear.

“They’re not part of our state, and they’re coming from the outside,” Klobuchar said.

Other speakers who came together included Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson; Mary Merill; Robert Liligren; Lul Osman; Clarence Castile; Imam Asad Zaman; Bo Thao-Urabe; Justin Terrell.

The community leaders denounced systemic racism that they say have long contributed to inequality and tensions, and said outside anarchists were intent on causing destruction.

“We cannot watch our brothers being murdered and, then, on top of that, watch our communities being demolished and then trying to blame us,” said Osman.

Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, executive director of Unidos MN, a nonprofit, spoke about how minority business owners on Lake Street, the heart of the Minneapolis Latino community, sought to defend their livelihoods.

LeBlanc connection

March 15, 2021.

Millicent Michelle Pepion, Crystal Echo Hawk, Judith LeBlanc, Peggy Flanagan, Sharice Davids, Deb Haaland, Mark Ruffalo.

Native Nations Rise March and Rally

March 10, 2017 Tribal leaders, indigenous rights advocates, and members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe held a rally in Washington DC, to oppose the Trump administration’s approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines and to support Native American tribal land rights. Musical performers included the Akwesasne Mohawk Women Singers, Prolific the Rapper, and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas.

Speakers were Dave Archambault, Chair Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Gabriel Ayala, Classical Musician, Candi Brings Plenty, Director Equi Institute, Lisa DeVille Activist Mandaree, Maria DeVille, Vice President Modern Day Warriors, Peggy Flanagan, Member White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Tulsi Gabbard U.S. Representative [D] Hawaii, Mayda Garcia Representative, , Society of Native Nations, JoDe Goudy Chair Yakima Nation Tribal Council (Washington), Kim Howe, Activist, Judith LeBlanc, Native Organizers Alliance, Melissa Mark-Viverito Speaker New York, NY City Council, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez Hip Hop Artist and Activist, Alice Brown Otter, Activist, Prolific the Rapper, Fawn R. Sharp, President Quinault Indian Nation, Faith Spotted Eagle, Activist, Wes Studi, Actor and Film Producer, Taboo, Rapper, Ulali, Activist, Eryn Wise, Activist, Eagle Woman, Activist North Dakota, Royal Yellow Hawk Representative Rosebud, South Dakota-Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council.

External links

• Wellstone Action website