Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith won’t seek a second full term next year, opening up a seat in a Democratic-leaning state that Republicans have viewed as a potential target.
“This decision is not political. It is entirely personal,” the Democrat said in a video posted to social media, adding that she wants to spend more time with her family, including her four grandchildren and her father, who will turn 95 this summer. “But it’s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong, progressive leadership, right now maybe more than ever.”
Smith, 66, is the second Senate Democrat to announce retirement plans this year, following Michigan’s Gary Peters, whose seat is a top target for Republicans. Minnesota would be more of a reach for the GOP, but a strong recruit could make the race more competitive than past Senate contests.
