Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz has endorsed Rep. Angie Craig in the state’s competitive Democratic Senate primary, adding a new dimension to the contest ahead of the August 11 vote. Her endorsement comes amid speculation about the involvement of her husband, Governor Tim Walz, who has remained officially neutral despite the bitterly contested race.

Craig, a two-term congresswoman, secured the backing of Gwen Walz on Monday, who praised Craig’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive health care, as well as her track record in winning close elections. The endorsement is notable because Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who is also running in the primary, holds the official endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. Flanagan’s campaign has received support from several prominent state Democrats, including U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Attorney General Keith Ellison.

A spokesperson for Governor Walz declined to comment on whether he had a role in his wife’s decision to endorse Craig. Governor Walz has maintained a public distance from the primary, despite the significance of the race and the fact that Flanagan is his second-in-command.

The dynamics of the contest have been further complicated by political fallout from a fraud scandal that emerged during Walz’s unsuccessful vice-presidential bid in 2024. The scandal, which centered on alleged election fraud in the state, led to a sharp decline in the governor’s political standing. Flanagan has publicly distanced herself from the controversy and from Walz, who has accepted responsibility for the situation.

Reports indicate that the governor and lieutenant governor have not maintained close communication in recent months. In a May interview, Flanagan acknowledged Walz’s decision not to seek a third term as governor, expressing respect for that choice. However, she also referenced the governor’s statement that accountability for the fraud scandal “stops with him,” emphasizing that he took responsibility.

Flanagan’s campaign praised Gwen Walz’s endorsement of Craig but also highlighted her respect for the first lady and the accomplishments of the Walz-Flanagan administration. The primary remains tightly contested, with the contrasting endorsements underscoring divisions within the party ahead of a critical election for control of the U.S. Senate.