Peggy Flanagan Welcomes Chuck Schumer on the Campaign Trail but Says ‘It Is Time for New Leadership’

We want to turn now to Tuesday's other big winner in Minnesota's Democratic Senate primary, where it was not a close race. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan beat Congresswoman Angie Craig by nearly 20 points. And joining me now is the Democratic nominee for Senate, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota. Thank you so very much for joining me. Really appreciate it. And congratulations on your primary win. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Let's delve into the topics. Your victory speech, you said you will work to earn the vote of Congresswoman Craig's supporters. And I'm curious, what specific issues do you believe can appeal to those more moderate Democratic voters who you need to win over in the general? Well, I think what's clear, and I am so grateful to Congresswoman Craig, you know, we had two highly qualified women who are running for this U.S. Senate seat. She has now endorsed my campaign. And my hope is to continue to travel across the state meeting voters wherever they're at and earning their trust and support. Congresswoman Craig and I are absolutely 100 percent aligned that we have to stop Michelle Tafoya from winning this seat. We know that we cannot afford to allow Donald Trump to have one more yes-sir senator serving, you know, to do his bidding. And I think what, you know, we can find common ground on for folks across the state is, you know, making sure that people can afford the lives they want to live. Folks feel squeezed. They are struggling. And those are the issues, frankly, that I expect, you know, they want us to tackle, because that's what I've heard from folks as we travel across the state. You know, it's not a secret that Congresswoman Craig and I don't see eye to eye on everything, but we are completely aligned in making sure that this seat remains blue. Michelle Tafoya is kept on the sidelines where she belongs and that we take back the House and have a Democratic Senate majority as well. I want to get a sense of how you see this race unfolding in the primary. You said Congresswoman Craig was beholden to corporate donors. Now you are directing that line of attack at your Republican opponent. NRC Chair Tim Scott said earlier this week that he thinks Michelle Tafoya can put Minnesota in play. If Republicans devote resources to make this race competitive, will you also accept outside help in the form of campaign cash? I have taken that commitment to not take a dime of corporate PAC money. This has been the campaign of the many versus the money. And I think that's a big reason why we won the primary and why we'll win again in November. Listen, Minnesotans of all political stripes are sick and tired of corporate PACs, special interest groups, putting their thumb on the scale in our elections. And we had a resounding victory on Tuesday night where folks said that they want to make sure that we can end Citizens United. I think the best way to end Citizens United is to demonstrate that you can run and win strong grassroots people-powered campaigns. You know, does that mean I have to hustle a little bit more? Yes. But it also means that I can sleep at night because I am beholden only to Minnesotans. And I think, you know, corporations have an incredible amount of representation in Washington. It's regular folks who need a voice in the Senate. And that's what I plan to do. I guess I'd also say, you know, for Michelle Tafoya, you know, she's been talking a lot about how, you know, people should simply skip their trip to Starbucks in the face of high fuel prices from this illegal war in Iran. I think that's pretty disconnected from what regular Minnesotans are facing every single day. And, you know, our opportunity is to just continue to make sure that people know there's one person who's fighting for Minnesotans and there's one person who's going to, you know, fight for Donald Trump and be a loyal soldier to him. And that's Michelle Tafoya. Well, speaking of Michelle Tafoya, I want to play a little bit of what she told Minnesota Public Radio yesterday. Get your reaction on the other side. Take a look. When I believe something is right, I will go with it. When I believe something's wrong, I have the spine to stand up to it. And I'm going to do that. I'm an independent thinker, and we're going to welcome everyone into this camp. She's effectively making the case there that she will stand up to President Trump when she believes it is necessary. Do you believe that message could resonate with independent voters and make your path more challenging? I mean, I think there, you know, are two kinds of Republicans. There are mega Republicans who are proud Trump supporters, and there are mega Republicans who are afraid of Donald Trump. And it is clear that Donald Trump will be the one who is essentially telling Michelle Tafoya what to do. We already know, again, that she has, you know, taken the stance that this illegal war in Iran is A-OK with her, as we watch the cost of fuel go up for folks, fertilizer prices. We were just out at Farmfest, where, you know, farmers in Minnesota were telling me that they were absolutely being squeezed. The, you know, just chaos and unpredictability that's happening under this president is ridiculous. You know, the weather is hard to control, and you shouldn't have to also deal with the chaos coming out of the Trump administration. And Republicans like Michelle Tafoya, who are going to continue to give him, you know, whatever he wants. I guess I'd also say, you know, this past year has been incredibly difficult for our state as we, you know, endured Operation Metro Surge. This is another place where, you know, Michelle Tafoya is out of step with Minnesotans and lockstep with Donald Trump. She said, you know, ICE treated children really, really well. Well, I think, you know, Liam Conejo-Ramos would beg to differ. Our little guy in the blue bunny hat and the children who've had, you know, their parents disappeared and detained. You know, we don't need another senator who is going to empower this, like, lawless entity that's been allowed to kill two Minnesotans with impunity and wreak absolute chaos and violence in communities all across the United States. It has to stop. And we deserve a senator who's going to stand up to Trump. You do take me to my next question, which is about that. You have said that you want to rip ICE apart. Is that effectively calling to abolish ICE? Do you want to abolish ICE? I think what we need is an immigration system, but we need an immigration system that, you know, is grounded in public safety and that is grounded in dignity and making sure that we have a pathway to citizenship. We can absolutely have secure borders. But, you know, what we have witnessed literally in the streets here of Minnesota is that Donald Trump's ICE has, you know, detained people simply if they are people of color. You know, I'm a member of the Native American community, and they were detaining Native people who are literally native to this country simply because of the color of their skin. This is out of control. And I think, you know, when we see, what, over $240 billion being given to this agency that is essentially just functioning as a, you know, private police force for Donald Trump terrorizing our communities, we can absolutely do better. We need to hold these folks accountable for what they've done here in Minnesota. So, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, yes or no, abolish ICE? Yes or no on abolishing ICE? I'm not clear on where you stand there. I believe we need an immigration system. ICE has been around, you know, since the last few years. So replace ICE, you're saying replace ICE with a new system? Are you saying that ICE should be replaced with a new system? I think this immigration system is broken, and we need to make sure that we are restoring and repairing and healing what they have broken. And, you know, I am so clear that this week, as we're having a conversation about whether or not ICE should be spending millions of dollars on electric gloves that are going to shock individuals and detainees, what kind of conversation are we having? It is an agency that is grounded in terror and violence and intimidation. That is, you know, what they are doing in communities across the country. The American people deserve better, and we need an immigration system that takes public safety into account, grounded in dignity, a pathway to citizenship that, you know, is not what Donald Trump is offering right now. And I want to hold this administration accountable for the economic impact on our communities, for the trauma that they have caused our children, and for, you know, the lives that have been lost, not just here in Minnesota, but nine other individuals who have been killed by this agency. It's outrageous, and we need a new immigration system grounded in the Very quickly, I want to ask you about what you told Politico in relation to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. You said you think there should be a new voice for the role of Democratic leader. Who is that voice, and would you welcome Chuck Schumer on the campaign trail? I mean, Chuck Schumer and I have already had a conversation. I am grateful for the leadership that he has provided and what I have heard clearly from people all across Minnesota. Absolutely. But what I have heard from people all across Minnesota is they are ready for bold fighters. They are ready, you know, to ensure that we have voices that are grounded in making sure that people can afford the lives they want to live. And I think it is time for new leadership. I am grateful to have the support of many members of the U.S. Senate and folks who came out early in support of our campaign and what it is that we're building. I look forward to winning this race, getting there and helping to elect leadership that's ready for big, bold change. All right. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, we're going to watch your race very carefully. Really appreciate your time. Thanks so much.