Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) announced she will retire from the Senate in 2026, forcing Democrats to defend another seat in the midterm elections. Minnesota is a Democratic-leaning state, with Smith winning a full term in 2020 by 5 points against her Republican challenger.

The Minnesota Democrat will leave her party defending another open seat as it confronts an uphill battle to retake the Senate. The move could also prompt a run from Gov. Tim Walz.

Minnesota’s Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2026, a decision that could spark a competitive Democratic primary as the party faces a challenging Senate map next year.

Minnesota has its first open-seat Senate race since 2006. Many candidates are giving it a look and both parties say they’re well-positioned to win.