U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announces she will not run for re-election
(WDIO)
U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced Thursday she will not be running for re-election to the Senate in 2026. Sen. Smith made a video announcement on X, stating the job has been the honor of a lifetime.
“I have loved my job as United States Senator, and also after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I am ready to spend more time with my family,” Sen. Smith said.
Smith said the decision was not political, but entirely personal.
She also said she plans to use the two years left in her term working to represent Minnesota’s interests in the Senate without having to worry about running for reelection.
“We have a deep bench of political talent in Minnesota, a group of leaders that are more than ready to pick up the work and carry us forward,” she said. “And I’m excited to make room for them to move forward.”
I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) February 13, 2025
This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country.
Thank you so much, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/3sWVib8nKJ
Smith, 66 years old, has been in office since 2018.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued this statement on the news regarding Sen. Smith.
“It’s been a privilege to work with Senator Tina Smith. I’m lucky enough to call her not only a colleague, but a true friend. Tina and I have been friends since long before our time together in the Senate. We have watched each other’s kids grow up and been there for each other through life’s ups and downs. As the only Senator to have worked at Planned Parenthood, Tina quickly became a leader in Washington in the fight to protect women’s rights. Tina also bravely shared her own story as part of her work to strengthen mental health services for all Americans. Her quiet but effective governing style earned her the title the velvet hammer. While Tina and I will continue to work together for the next two years, our friendship and her legacy will last a lifetime.”
The Minnesota DFL Party also released a statement following the announcement.
“From city hall to the halls of Congress, no one has fought harder for Minnesotans and our values than Tina Smith,” said Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan. “From reproductive freedom to workers’ rights, Tina has been a relentless champion for the DFL principle that we all do better when we all do better. The DFL will work as tirelessly as Tina does to ensure that her successor shares her commitment to Minnesota values.”