ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and a failed 2024 candidate have both announced bids for a 2026 congressional seat after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announced on Thursday that she will not be running for re-election in 2026.

Republican U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, whose Sixth Congressional District includes St. Cloud, posted to his X account Thursday that he is “focused on doing the job I was elected to do.” He added, “We have a lot of work to do to implement President Trump’s agenda and that’s where I’m concentrating my efforts.”

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Thursday she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, the first Democrat to jump into what could be a crowded field to replace outgoing Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan made her announcement within a few hours after Smith,