Sen. Tina Smith has decided not to run for reelection at the end of her term in 2026, Breitbart reported. The Minnesota Democrat made the announcement Thursday as some speculate that she called it quits before suffering defeat.
Smith released a video message on her X page announcing her intention to leave after finishing out her term. "I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.," she captioned the post.
"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," Smith wrote.
I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.
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
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) February 13, 2025
In Smith's video statement, she insisted she was leaving simply to spend more time with her family. "This decision is not political. It is entirely personal," she said.
"But it’s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong, progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever," Smith added. However, it's not necessarily what her constituents will vote for.
Although Minnesota mostly votes Democratic, President Donald Trump has fared well in the North Star State. In 2016 and 2024, Trump was within a few points of turning the state red, and the GOP hopes to gain even more ground in the home state of form Gov. Tim Walz, the former Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Senate Republicans took the opportunity of Smith's resignation to make the point about the future of her party. "Retire or lose," the official X account captioned Smith's video.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott echoed that sentiment in a statement Thursday. "Minnesota is in play, and we play to win. Minnesotans deserve a Senator who will fight for lower taxes, economic opportunity, and safer communities," he added.
It isn't just national elections where Republicans are making headway in Minnesota. According to Fox News, the state House of Representatives is now a 67-66 majority due to a power-sharing agreement.
This situation arose after it was found that Democratic House Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson "did not meet the residency requirements to represent Minnesota House District 40B, rendering him ineligible to take office," the news outlet stated. A special election will be held on March 11 to find a replacement.
In the meantime, Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth was elected Speaker of the House in Minnesota. The power-sharing agreement states that she will keep the position for a two-year term regardless of the outcome of a special election.
"We definitely have an advantage. And I think it's important to recognize that the reason that there is a special election that needed to be called is because the Democrats had a candidate that lied and cheated and couldn't take office," Demuth said.
The tide is turning throughout the U.S. for Democrats, and politicians like Smith must see the writing on the wall. Trump's election opened the floodgates for other Republicans, and Democrats are struggling to keep up.
