Minnesota Senate Voter Guide: Flanagan, Tafoya, Simonetti and Whiting on Immigration and Affordability
Four candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Minnesota on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Michele Tafoya, independent Marisa Simonetti, Libertarian Rebecca Whiting and DFL nominee Peggy Flanagan. The seat is open; Republican Alycia Gruenhagen is also running as a write-in candidate, MPR News reported.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the four side by side on immigration and affordability. Here is where each one stands, based on the video and the candidates' own words.
Michele Tafoya (Republican)
Tafoya is a former sports broadcaster who won the Republican nomination in August, FOX 9 reported.
On immigration, the video says Tafoya wants to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, end catch and release and oppose amnesty. Her campaign site says "our border should be secure, our laws should be enforced and criminal illegal immigrants should be deported," and she backs the Deporting Fraudsters Act, which would deport noncitizens convicted of fraud.
On affordability, the video says Tafoya would cut federal regulations and expand American energy production. Her site pledges to "support all U.S. energy sources" to lower utility bills and gas prices, and to cut taxes and prescription drug costs.
Marisa Simonetti (Independent)
On immigration, the video says Simonetti backs strict enforcement of constitutional borders and national sovereignty. She has also told MPR News that the federal immigration operation in Minnesota "devolved into abuse and unnecessary violence."
On affordability, the video says Simonetti would break up corporate monopolies that inflate the cost of living. She told MPR News that voters feel the system is "rigged," pointing to gas, groceries and housing interest rates, and that she supports cutting red tape for small businesses and adding affordable housing.
Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian)
Whiting is a Bemidji farmer and small business owner, chair of the Libertarian Party of Minnesota and an Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq as a combat medic, according to MPR News and her campaign.
On immigration, the video says Whiting wants citizenship or legal work authorization made free and fast. Her campaign describes a platform of ending foreign wars and limiting government.
On affordability, the video says Whiting wants fewer regulations on small producers, lower tariffs and support for family farms. She told MPR News she wants to erase the national debt, deregulate business and cut taxes, and her site argues that regulations keep small businesses from succeeding.
Peggy Flanagan (DFL)
Flanagan is Minnesota's lieutenant governor, first elected with Gov. Tim Walz in 2018, and won the DFL primary in August.
On immigration, the video says Flanagan wants a secure border and a pathway to citizenship, with due process for those detained. Her campaign says "we must have a strong and secure border" and calls for "a pathway to legal status" for long-term residents, along with protecting due process rights.
On affordability, the video says Flanagan backs Medicare for All, lower drug costs, universal day care and a higher federal minimum wage. Her site supports Medicare for All, Medicare and Medicaid negotiating all drug prices, and a minimum wage of "at least $17 an hour and tied to inflation."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Michele Tafoya: @Michele_Tafoya on X. Marisa Simonetti: @marisa.simonetti28 on TikTok. Rebecca Whiting: @BemidjiReBecca on X. Peggy Flanagan: @peggyflanagan on X and @peggyflanaganformn on TikTok.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: MPR News, "3 candidates seek Minnesota's Senate seat without major party backing" (Oct. 15, 2026): https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/15/libertarian-rebecca-whiting-independent-marisa-simonetti-and-write-in-alycia-gruenhagen ; FOX 9, "Michele Tafoya on fraud, affordability, immigration and Minnesota's US Senate race" (Aug. 13, 2026): https://www.fox9.com/news/michele-tafoya-fraud-affordability-immigration-minnesotas-us-senate-race ; Michele Tafoya campaign, Issues: https://micheletafoya.com/issues/ ; Peggy Flanagan campaign, Priorities: https://peggyflanagan.com/priorities/ ; Rebecca Whiting campaign: https://whiting4senate.us/ ; Libertarian Party, Rebecca Whiting: https://lp.org/candidate/rebecca-whiting/
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