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Former Democratic legislator Melisa López Franzen embarked Monday on an attempted political comeback, announcing a campaign for U.S. Senate a few years after leaving the state Legislature.
López Franzen is the second major DFL candidate to enter the 2026 race for what will be an open seat due to the upcoming retirement of U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a fellow Democrat. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan started her campaign weeks ago, with others still mulling jumping in.
In launching her campaign, López Franzen presented herself as “a champion for accessible healthcare, education and small businesses.” She has run a consulting firm and most recently served as a senior official at the University of Minnesota.
She said she would advocate for programs that boost the middle class.
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“Minnesotans deserve a leader who will continue to stand up and fight for them – not someone beholden to billionaire donors,” she said in a written statement announcing her run. “As an entrepreneur, a Latina, and a mother of two, I know what it takes to protect the dignity of our neighbors and the next generation, and make sure people get a fair shot at the American dream.”
López Franzen served 10 years in the state Senate, but bowed out after the 2022 election. She had been paired with a fellow DFLer in a district when new boundaries were drawn and decided to move on rather than touch off a battle between incumbents. At the time she had been Senate minority leader.
López Franzen, who lives in Edina with her husband and two young children, said she will visit all 87 counties as she seeks the party’s support. Democrats will endorse a candidate in May or June of 2026, but an August primary is possible.
For Republicans, retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and the party’s 2024 Senate nominee Royce White are both running. Several others in the GOP are also considering campaigns.
