Black women in Minnesota call for change, back Lt Gov Flanagan for Senate

The idea behind the group, Black Women for Peggy, is pretty simple. It’s uniting some 300 women who are calling for change and joining forces to support Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s run for the open seat in the U.S. Senate.  

On Saturday, July 12, the newly formed group is hosting a luncheon to raise money for Flanagan and get to know her even better. 

“We are not going to keep taking these pop shots and singing our songs on Sunday mornings,” said Andrena Seawood, volunteer with Black Women for Peggy.  “We have decided to get behind a good candidate with a moral compass that is not broken, has not been bought, is not off kilter, and is not wavering.”

The sisters involved in Black Women for Peggy are donating, door knocking, emailing and texting to support the BIPOC candidate whom they believe gets them. 

“It’s important to me to earn the support of Black women who have, frankly, been showing us the way in politics and organizing work for a long time,” Flanagan said. 

Flanagan is Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, and currently the country’s highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office. 

A win in 2026 would make Flanagan the first Native American woman in the U.S. Senate. 

“We want our young people to know who they are, where they come from, and be proud of their identity, something that is being pushed back against in this moment by people in positions of power,” Flanagan said. 

After Flanagan announced her bid for US Senate, many Black women saw it as an opportunity to support a BIPOC woman. 

“We want someone who is out rallying for issues, especially in the current state of our democracy,” said Yolanda Pierson, with Black Women for Peggy. “As Black women, we’ve always been the backbone of our community. We have to get other BIPOC women who share what our challenges to join us.”

Flanagan is running to succeed U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, who announced in February that she will not run for reelection in 2026. Also vying for the DFL nomination is Smith’s U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, currently serving her fourth term in Congress representing Minnesota’s 2nd District. 

Declared Republican candidates include Royce White, who lost to incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2024, and former Marine and Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

“There aren’t enough people in Washington who know what it’s like to struggle,” said Flanagan. “I grew up knowing the bottom could fall out at any moment. There are not enough people representing us in Congress who have that experience.”

“When Kamala Harris lost the election, Black women felt defeated,” said Sheletta Brundidge, group organizer. 

Brundidge said many Black women sought the safety of their homes and churches after the 2024 election, but are now speaking up and stepping out. 

“We can’t keep our heads down and mind our business any longer,” Brundidge added. “After Melissa Hortman, one of our strongest allies, died tragically, we are turning our grief into action.”

Join Black Women for Peggy and Flanagan on Saturday, July 12 for good food and conversation. Email Lauren at: lauren@peggyflanagan.com for event details.