Former Minnesota DFL legislator Melisa López Franzen has announced she will run for the U.S. Senate seat set to be vacated by Sen. Tina Smith.

Melissa Lopez Franzen is running for U.S. Senate in 2026 after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said she would not seek reelection.

This comes after Sen. Tina Smith announced she won’t seek reelection. Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan has announced her candidacy. On the Republican side, 2024 Senate candidate Royce White and 2022 Congressional candidate Adam Schwarze have announced they’re running.

López Franzen, former minority leader for the DFL, joins fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in the race for U.S. Senate.

Former Minnesota Senate Leader Melisa López Franzen announced her campaign for the U.S. Senate Monday morning.  “I am running for the United States Senate to protect our Minnesota values,

Former state Sen. Melisa López Franzen announced Monday she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, making her the second Democrat to seek Tina Smith’s seat. López Franzen and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are the only Democrats so far to launch campaigns since Smith announced last month she wouldn’t run for re-election to the U.

Melisa López Franzen, a former Democratic leader in the Legislature, said she will run for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat next year. She most recently worked at the University of Minnesota.