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Flanagan projected to win Minnesota Senate race over Tafoya, AP and networks say

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

13 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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CBS News and NBC News project that Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has defeated Republican Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race. The Associated Press called the race just after midnight, when Flanagan had 54.36 percent with 70.6 percent of ballots counted, according to the Washington Examiner. The Hill, citing Decision Desk HQ, reports Flanagan at nearly 55 percent and says she will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who did not seek another term. The Washington Free Beacon reports that Flanagan would be the first Native American woman elected to the Senate, and that her race drew scrutiny over the handling of fraud scandals under Gov. Tim Walz.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Democrat Peggy Flanagan was projected to defeat Republican Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race.

    Reported byLeft2Center1Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CBS News, NBC News
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Washington Free Beacon, Townhall, Fox News

  2. Flanagan was reported at nearly 55 percent of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ.

    One outletThe Hill· Center

  3. The race was called just after midnight with 70.6 percent of ballots counted, when Flanagan had 54.36 percent.

    One outletWashington Examiner· Right

  4. The seat was held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who did not seek another term.

    One side only: the centerReported byCenter2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    The Hill, PBS NewsHour

  5. Flanagan would be the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.

    One outletWashington Free Beacon· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Questions the coverage answers differently, and who says what.

  • Was the seat being vacated by Tina Smith?

    The Hill reports Flanagan will replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith, while the Washington Examiner says the race was to succeed Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All sides report that Flanagan, the Democratic lieutenant governor, was projected winner over Tafoya, the Republican. Left and center outlets frame it as a Democratic hold and a seat being filled after Smith’s retirement; right outlets focus more on Walz-administration fraud scandals and Flanagan’s ICE rhetoric.

  • the left

    4 outlets

    CBS and NBC headlines report the projection as a Democratic hold or a closed Republican pickup chance, attributing the call to the projecting network.

    Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota 2026 Senate election, CBS News projects
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    The Hill’s headline states the win plainly and frames it around the Senate seat Smith is leaving, with the projection attributed to Decision Desk HQ in the description.

    Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate seat left open by Smith
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    7 outlets

    Townhall and the Examiner state the win plainly, while Free Beacon and Fox News lead with Walz administration fraud scandals and Flanagan’s ICE rhetoric, Fox most sharply.

    Loaded modifier“Walz’s Wingwoman”The nickname ties Flanagan to Walz in a way that pre-judges her role rather than naming her office.More neutral: Lieutenant Governor Peggy FlanaganDisagree with this highlight? Peggy Flanagan Prevails in Minnesota Senate Race
    Washington Free BeaconFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center2

    political maelstromhis ire

  • Right4

    toppledstiflingmarred by fraud scandalsWalz’s Wingwoman

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    political maelstromMore neutral: a period of intense political conflict

    The word maelstrom presents the political climate as chaotic beyond what the surrounding facts describe.

    Join Press Pass from PBS News The state has been at the center of a political maelstrom in President Donald Trump's second term, as the Republican president has…

    Used byPBS NewsHour (Center)

  • Sensational language

    his ireMore neutral: has focused much of his attention on Minnesota

    The word ire adds emotional heat to a description of the president's focus that the article does not support with detail.

    …Donald Trump's second term, as the Republican president has focused much of his ire on Minnesota and its Democratic leaders.

    Used byPBS NewsHour (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    toppledMore neutral: defeated

    The verb implies overthrowing an incumbent rather than neutrally reporting a defeat.

    Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic nominee, toppled former NFL sideline reporter and Republican nominee Michele Tafoya, stifling the…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    stiflingMore neutral: ending

    The verb adds a judgement about the effect of the result on Republican hopes.

    …nominee, toppled former NFL sideline reporter and Republican nominee Michele Tafoya, stifling the GOP’s hopes of flipping the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

Show 2 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded verb

    marred by fraud scandalsMore neutral: was followed by fraud scandals

    Describing the lieutenant governor’s tenure as marred adds a negative judgement that the excerpt does not support with a finding.

    Flanagan's time as Minnesota's lieutenant governor was marred by fraud scandals, but that did not seem to deter voters from sending her to the Senate.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Walz’s WingwomanMore neutral: Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan

    The nickname ties Flanagan to Walz in a way that pre-judges her role rather than naming her office.

    Walz’s Wingwoman Peggy Flanagan Prevails in Minnesota Senate Race

    Used byWashington Free Beacon (Far Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    rip ICE apartMore neutral: said she would overhaul ICE

    The phrase is a vivid vow whose words are Flanagan’s own, reported in a headline that frames it as the reason for her win.

    Trump-backed ex-NFL reporter loses Senate race to progressive who vowed to 'rip ICE apart'

    Quoted byFox News (Far Right)

    These are Peggy Flanagan’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

4 outlets

Leads with

  • Democrats keep the seat
  • closing a Republican pickup chance
  • the network projection

Leaves out

  • scrutiny of Walz administration fraud scandals

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota 2026 Senate election, CBS News projects

    Peggy Flanagan's projected victory in Minnesota closes the door on one of the few pickup opportunities for Republicans in the Senate.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Peggy Flanagan’s Victory Keeps Minnesota Senate Seat in Democratic Hands

    Ms. Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, ran against the former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya. She becomes the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    Democrats Send First Native Woman to Senate as They Win Another Seat

    Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican candidate Michele Tafoya in Minnesota’s Senate race. Flanagan has defeated Tafoya 54–43 percent, with 72 percent of votes counted. …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan holds a Minnesota Senate seat for Democrats

    Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race, NBC News projects, keeping the seat in Democrats’ column.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • seat left open by Smith
  • Flanagan at nearly 55 percent
  • Lt. Gov. since 2019
See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate seat left open by Smith

    Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) is projected to win the state's Senate race, defeating Republican challenger Michele Tafoya, according to Decision Desk HQ. Flanagan, who has served as the state’s lieutenant governor since 2019, will replace retiring Sen. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    Live Results: Minnesota Senate midterm election

    Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, are among four candidates vying to replace Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who announced in 2025 that she would not seek a second full term.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

7 outlets

Leads with

  • Walz administration fraud scandals
  • Flanagan’s ICE rhetoric
  • Trump’s endorsement of Tafoya
  • Flanagan’s margin
See the 7 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • One America NewsFar Right

    Flanagan wins Minn. Senate race

    Democrat Peggy Flanagan has defeated Republican Michele Tafoya to become the next senator of the North Star State.

    Read at One America News (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington Free BeaconFar Right

    Loaded modifier“Walz’s Wingwoman”The nickname ties Flanagan to Walz in a way that pre-judges her role rather than naming her office.More neutral: Lieutenant Governor Peggy FlanaganDisagree with this highlight? Peggy Flanagan Prevails in Minnesota Senate Race

    Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan held off former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya in a closely watched Senate race Tuesday, overcoming questions about her handling of multiple fraud scandals while serving as lieutenant governor in the administration of Governor Tim Walz.

    Read at Washington Free Beacon (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRight

    Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Senate race over Michele Tafoya

    The race drew national attention amid scrutiny of Minnesota’s sprawling public-benefits fraud scandal.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    Peggy Flanagan holds off Michelle Tafoya in Minnesota Senate race to succeed Amy Klobuchar

    Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan beat former sports broadcaster Michelle Tafoya on Tuesday in the race to succeed Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. Senate. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar Right

    Michele Tafoya Falls Short As Far-Left Democrat Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate Race

    The battle for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat has come to an end, with Democrat Peggy Flanagan defeating Republican Michele Tafoya Tuesday in a race that pitted a former national sports broadcaster against one of the state's most radical Democrat politicians.

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • TownhallFar Right

    Peggy Flanagan Wins Minnesota Senate Seat

    Peggy Flanagan has won the Minnesota Senate Race. She defeated Republican challenger Michelle Tafoya.

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Trump-backed ex-NFL reporter loses Senate race to progressive who vowed to 'Loaded verb“rip ICE apart”The phrase is a vivid vow whose words are Flanagan’s own, reported in a headline that frames it as the reason for her win.More neutral: said she would overhaul ICEThese are Peggy Flanagan’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?'

    Peggy Flanagan defeated Michele Tafoya in Minnesota's special election after ICE's Operation Metro Surge became a central rallying cry for her campaign.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    19 hr 5 min later

    Its first report, Nov 4, 12:05 AM EST

  • Center

    First to report

    PBS NewsHour, Nov 3, 5:00 AM EST

  • Right

    18 hr 20 min later

    Its first report, Nov 3, 11:20 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 3, 5:00 AM EST
  2. Fox NewsFar RightNov 3, 11:20 PM EST
  3. The HillCenterNov 4, 12:04 AM EST
  4. NBC NewsLeftNov 4, 12:05 AM EST
  5. RedStateFar RightNov 4, 12:11 AM EST
  6. TownhallFar RightNov 4, 12:11 AM EST
  7. The New RepublicFar LeftNov 4, 12:11 AM EST
  8. Washington ExaminerRightNov 4, 12:12 AM EST
  9. The New York TimesLeftNov 4, 12:16 AM EST
  10. CBS NewsLeftNov 4, 12:18 AM EST
  11. New York PostRightNov 4, 12:22 AM EST
  12. Washington Free BeaconFar RightNov 4, 12:25 AM EST
  13. One America NewsFar RightNov 4, 1:23 AM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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