Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith says she wants to spend more time with her four grandchildren — all born since she took office — as well as her two sons and her 94-year-old father. So, she’s decided not to run for reelection in 2026.

“This decision is not political, it is entirely personal. But it’s not lost upon me that our country is in need of strong, progressive leadership – right now maybe more than ever,” Smith said X and other social media platforms.

Smith emphasized that not running a campaign will help her focus on her job in Washington over the next two years.

“I have nearly two full years left in my term, and I plan to use every day working as hard as I can to represent your interests in the Senate and making sure your voices are heard,” she said, adding that Minnesota has “a deep bench of political talent” that will take up her mantel.

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Smith — his lieutenant governor — to the Senate following Al Franken’s resignation in January 2018, and she subsequently won a special election that November. She was elected to a full term in 2020.

Smith’s first foray into politics was as Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s chief of staff. She later joined Dayton’s gubernatorial campaign and was selected to be his chief of staff in 2011. Smith was his running mate in the 2014 election.

Born in New Mexico, Smith first moved to Minnesota in 1984, taking a job at General Mills before starting a small business and later becoming an executive at Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “It’s been a privilege” to work with her Minnesota counterpart in the Senate over the past seven years and considered Smith to be “a true friend.”

“As the only Senator to have worked at Planned Parenthood, Tina quickly became a leader in Washington in the fight to protect women’s rights. Tina also bravely shared her own story as part of her work to strengthen mental health services for all Americans,” Klobuchar said. “Her quiet but effective governing style earned her the title the velvet hammer. While Tina and I will continue to work together for the next two years, our friendship and her legacy will last a lifetime.”

Reflecting on Smith’s legacy, Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus said the senator “has been a relentless champion for the DFL principle that we all do better when we all do better.”

“The DFL will work as tirelessly as Tina does to ensure that her successor shares her commitment to Minnesota values,” Kraus added.

Her decision to not run again touched off speculation about possible candidates in both major political parties. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan left no room for speculation about her, announcing within 90 minutes of Smith’s announcement her “intention is to run for U.S. Senate and continue to serve the people of this state.”

Awkwardly, her boss, Gov. Tim Walz, is also considering a Senate run. However, a source close to the governor says he also hasn’t ruled out running for a third term as governor.

“Minnesota, I think will be very much a competitive place for both national political parties in 2026,” says Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier.

Just about every prominent politician in both parties had their names floated on Thursday, including Flanagan, Walz, Congresswoman Angie Craig, Secretary of State Steve Simon and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on the DFL side, just to name a few. On the GOP side, there’s Congressmen Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber, 2024 Senate candidate Royce White, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove and 2022 candidate for governor Dr. Scott Jensen.

The last Minnesota Republican to win a statewide office was Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2006. He was the first prominent Republican to say he won’t run again in 2026. “I had a chance to talk to Governor Pawlenty and he does not plan to run in this race,” says Brian McClung, Pawlenty’s former communications director. “He said he hopes Minnesota Republicans will nominate a strong statewide candidate.”

McClung says he’ll be watching to see what Walz does next. “He was just the vice presidential nominee. He probably would like another shot on the national stage and he has to weigh whether another term as governor or serving in the U.S. Senate is more helpful from that perspective.”

In her social media announcement, Smith said her decision “is not political. It is entirely personal.” Later Thursday, she told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS she will stay out of the debate over who should replace her. “I’m excited to see what leaders come forward,” she said from her office in Washington. “I think we have such a deep bench of talent in Minnesota. It’s not my job to pick my successor at all. That’s the job of Minnesota voters.”