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Democrat Flanagan leads in Minnesota Senate race by double digits: Poll
Developed over time first seen 2 weeks ago
A New York Times/Siena poll published on 28 October put Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for an open US Senate seat, on 54% against 40% for Republican Michele Tafoya. The survey questioned 752 Minnesota voters between 19 and 26 October and reported a margin of sampling error of 4.1 percentage points. The candidates are seeking to replace retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
The 14-point lead was much wider than Flanagan’s advantage in several other polls. A Decision Desk HQ polling average cited when the survey appeared put her ahead by 47.4% to 43.8%, while local election analysts described the new result as an outlier. The poll therefore indicates a sizeable lead among its respondents, but does not establish that the wider race has shifted by the same amount. It also found that 62% of respondents disapproved of President Donald Trump’s job performance, compared with 35% who approved.
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In short
- Flanagan led Tafoya 54% to 40% in a late-October poll.
- The 14-point gap was considerably wider than in other surveys.
- The candidates are contesting retiring Senator Tina Smith’s seat.
How this story developed
- 2 weeks ago A New York Times/Siena poll published on 28 October put Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for an open US Senate seat, on 54% against 40% for Republican Michele Tafoya.
Explained simply
Minnesota has two US senators, who represent the state in the national legislature, Congress. One seat is open because Democratic Senator Tina Smith is retiring; the main candidates to replace her are Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and Republican Michele Tafoya.
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is Minnesota’s name for the state Democratic Party. The Senate race matters because its result will help decide which party holds seats in the closely watched US Senate, where senators vote on laws and confirm senior government appointments.
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