Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that the Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota will be a tight race.
The contest serves as a high-profile proxy for the ongoing ideological struggle between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party.
Speaking during an interview on "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan, Sanders discussed the matchup between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, and Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate [1]. Sanders said he supports Flanagan while acknowledging the difficulty of her path to victory.
"I think it’s going to be a tight race. I hope very much that Peggy wins," Sanders said [2].
Sanders pointed to a significant financial gap between the two candidates as a primary factor in the competition. He said that Flanagan is being outspent by Craig at a ratio of seven to one [3].
"She’s being outspent 7-1," Sanders said [3].
Despite the spending disparity, Sanders said the race remains competitive. The outcome will determine which wing of the party controls the narrative for the seat in the upcoming general election.
“"I think it’s going to be a tight race."”
The disparity in campaign funding highlighted by Sanders underscores a common tension in Democratic primaries, where progressive candidates often rely on grassroots support to counter the larger donor networks available to moderate candidates. A victory for Flanagan would signal a shift toward the party's left wing in the Midwest, while a Craig victory would reinforce the viability of moderate centrism in competitive Senate races.
