Peggy Flanagan

Flanagan was born on September 22, 1979, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota,{{cite web |title=Peggy Flanagan: A Profile |url=https://archive.mpr.org/collections/people/peggy-flanagan |access-date=2 May 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio}} where she was raised by her mother, Patricia Elizabeth Flanagan, a lifelong DFL activist who worked for Hubert Humphrey.{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Beth |title=Children's Advocate Peggy Flanagan Poised to Become First Native Woman Governor |url=https://www.the74million.org/article/childrens-advocate-peggy-flanagan-poised-to-become-first-native-woman-governor/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The 74 |date=September 25, 2024}} Her father was Marvin Manypenny, an American Indian land rights and sovereignty activist.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Jon |title=Marvin Manypenny, Minnesota American Indian activist, dies |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/01/28/marvin-manypenny-minnesota-american-indian-activist-dies |access-date=August 6, 2024 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=January 28, 2020}}She is of Irish and Ojibwe descent{{cite web |last1=Boyd |first1=Cynthia |title=Peggy Flanagan, new head of Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, knows challenges of childhood poverty |url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2013/09/peggy-flanagan-new-head-children-s-defense-fund-minnesota-knows-challen/ |website=MinnPost |date=September 6, 2013 |access-date=6 August 2024}} and is a citizen of the White Earth Nation. Flanagan is a graduate of St. Louis Park High School{{Cite news|first=Dani|last=Orloff|url=https://slpecho.com/news/2018/11/27/lieutenant-governor-elect-journalist-visit-park/|title=Lieutenant Governor-elect, journalist visit Park|newspaper=St Louis Park High School Echo|access-date=|date = November 27, 2018|archive-date=|archive-url=}} and received a bachelor's degree in child psychology and American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota in 2002.{{cite web|title=Representative Peggy Flanagan (DFL) District: 46A|url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15451|website=Minnesota House of Representatives|access-date=November 11, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://citysouthmagazine.com/meet-st-louis-park-rep-peggy-flanagan|title=Meet St. Louis Park Rep. Peggy Flanagan | City South|website=Community Life Magazine|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223012620/https://citysouthmagazine.com/meet-st-louis-park-rep-peggy-flanagan|url-status=dead}}File:2023PeggyFlanaganLtGovMN.jpg

While in college, Flanagan worked on U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's campaign, eventually becoming an organizer for the urban Native American community. After college, she worked for the Minnesota Council of Churches, performing outreach work between Native American families and the Minneapolis public school system.{{cite news|last1=Bierschbach|first1=Briana|title=The unopposed: Meet Minnesota's newest House member|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2015/11/unopposed-meet-minnesotas-newest-house-member|access-date=November 11, 2015|agency=MinnPost|date=November 4, 2015|ref=unopposed}}

In her first run for elective office, Flanagan won a seat on the board of Minneapolis Public Schools in 2004.{{cite web | url=http://stage.southwestjournal.com/news/2004/11/school-board-lee-flanagan-henry-blythe/ | title=School Board: Lee, Flanagan, Henry-Blythe | date=November 11, 2004 | access-date=November 11, 2018 | archive-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112021302/http://stage.southwestjournal.com/news/2004/11/school-board-lee-flanagan-henry-blythe/ | url-status=dead }} In a six-candidate field that featured two incumbents, the political newcomer Flanagan garnered the most votes.{{cite web | url=http://vote.minneapolismn.gov/results/2004/g04summary | title=November 2, 2004 General Election }} She was elected along with Lydia Lee and incumbent Sharon Henry-Blythe and served one term on the board, from 2005 to 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/progressive-activist-peggy-flanagan-running-unopposed-for-minnesota-house/316993831/ | title=Progressive activist Peggy Flanagan running unopposed for Minnesota House | website=Star Tribune | date=July 18, 2015 | access-date=September 20, 2015 | author=Lopez, Ricardo}} In 2008, she challenged incumbent Minnesota Representative Joe Mullery in the Democratic primary, but dropped out of the race due to her mother's health problems. After working a handful of other jobs, Flanagan joined Wellstone Action as a trainer of activists, organizers, and candidates. She was then appointed to briefly serve on the school board again from 2010 until 2011.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-04 |title=Peggy Flanagan's focus for MPS students: equity |url=https://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2010/10/peggy-flanagans-focus-mps-students-equity/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} As executive director of Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, she also advocated for the successful 2014 effort to raise Minnesota's minimum wage.

Flanagan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives unopposed in a special election on November 3, 2015, and sworn in on November 9. Susan Allen (Rosebud) and Republican Steve Green (White Earth Ojibwe) were the only other Natives in the Minnesota State House at that time.

Three other Native women sought election to the Minnesota legislature in November 2016: Mary Kelly Kunesh-Podein (Standing Rock Lakota) and Jamie Becker-Finn (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) ran for state representative seats and Chilah Brown (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) ran for the Minnesota Senate. Kunesh-Podein and Becker-Finn were elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives and took office in January 2017.

In 2017, Flanagan, Allen, Kunesh-Podein and Beck-Finn formed the Minnesota House Native American Caucus to represent issues of both urban and rural Native Americans and their other constituents.

Flanagan was invited to address the 2016 Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016. She was the second Native American woman to address the DNC, after Denise Juneau in 2012.{{cite news | url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/denise-juneau-to-speak-about-indian-education-at-democratic-national-convention | title=Denise Juneau to Speak About Indian Education at Democratic National Convention | newspaper=Ict News | date=September 13, 2018 }}{{cite web | url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/07/28/peggy-flanagan-white-earth-addresses-dnc-165303|first= Suzette|last= Brewer|title=Peggy Flanagan, White Earth, Addresses DNC| website=Indian Country Today|date= July 28, 2016|access-date= July 31, 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 1, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801035549/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/07/28/peggy-flanagan-white-earth-addresses-dnc-165303}}

In 2017, Flanagan became a candidate for lieutenant governor, joining U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who won the DFL primary in the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2017/10/walz-picks-state-legislator-as-running-mate/|title=Capitol View: Walz picks state legislator as running mate|last=Bakst|first=Brian|date=October 5, 2017|work=Minnesota Public Radio}} In the general election, Walz and Flanagan defeated the Republican nominees, Jeff Johnson and Donna Bergstrom. Walz and Flanagan were reelected in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Rory |title=Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan Becomes the Highest-Ranking Native Woman Elected to Executive Office in the United States |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lieutenant-governor-of-minnesota-peggy-flanagan |website=Teen Vogue |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/08/26/native-women-and-access-to-power|title=Native women and access to power|date=August 26, 2020 }}

Flanagan was one of four chairs of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=2024-08-19 |title=Minnesota's lieutenant governor named one of four Democratic National Convention chairs in Chicago |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-lieutenant-governor-named-one-of-four-democratic-national-convention-chairs-in-chicago/601120313 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}

Flanagan has been described as a progressive Democrat.{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=John |date=2024-09-04 |title=The Minnesota Progressive Who Worries Republicans More Than Walz |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/peggy-flanagan-minnesota-tim-walz-election-2024-648ddbf5 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Coolican |first=J. Patrick |date=2024-12-19 |title=Tension between Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spills into public view • Minnesota Reformer |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/12/19/tension-between-gov-tim-walz-and-lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-spills-into-public-view/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}}

Flanagan is an advocate for Indigenous peoples' rights. While a legislator, she sponsored the creation of a task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Later, she sponsored a mandate for tribal consultation in state affairs{{cite news |last1=Olson |first1=Melissa |title=Minnesota leadership is on the road to strengthening relationships with tribal nations |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/12/04/time-to-visit-a-simple-act-to-improve-state-relationships-with-tribal-nations |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=December 5, 2023}} and as lieutenant governor created the nation's first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office.{{cite news |last1=Halnon |first1=Emily |title=Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan Uses Her CLA Degree "Every Single Day" |url=https://cla.umn.edu/news-events/story/lieutenant-governor-peggy-flanagan-uses-her-cla-degree-every-single-day |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=College of Liberal Arts News |agency=University of Minnesota |date=August 18, 2023}}

While a legislator, she authored several bills for employer-provided childcare and state-sponsored childcare assistance.{{cite web |author1=Office of the Revisor of Statutes |title=Legislative Session 90 (2017-2018): bills for Chief Authors of "Flanagan" |url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/status_result.php?body=House&session=0902017&author1[]=&legid1=15451 |publisher=Minnesota Legislature |access-date=6 August 2024}}

Flanagan supports transgender rights and providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. She supported Walz's executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care for adults and youth.{{cite web |title=Make protection for gender care permanent |website=Star Tribune |date=March 9, 2023 |url=https://www.startribune.com/make-protection-for-gender-care-permanent/600257601/ |access-date=9 March 2023 |ref=34}}

Flanagan has a daughter with her former husband, Tim Hellendrung.{{Cite web |title=Flanagan, Peggy - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15451 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}} The marriage ended in 2017. She resides in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/mpr-s-tom-weber-reassigned-after-admitting-relationship-with-peggy-flanagan/469033203/|title=MPR's Tom Weber reassigned because of romantic relationship with Rep. Peggy Flanagan|work=Star Tribune|access-date=August 15, 2018 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115174006/http://www.startribune.com/mpr-s-tom-weber-reassigned-after-admitting-relationship-with-peggy-flanagan/469033203/}} Flanagan is Catholic and attends St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Maple Grove.{{cite web |title=Peggy Flanagan |url=https://sojo.net/biography/peggy-flanagan |website=Sojourners |date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=September 24, 2024}}

On January 12, 2018, Flanagan announced on her personal Facebook page that she was in a relationship with the Minnesota Public Radio News host Tom Weber; MPR News announced that day that it was reassigning Weber to no longer cover "the governor's race, the Legislature, potential legislation, public policy involving the executive or legislative branches or any topic related to the November 2018 election."{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2018/01/a-note-from-mpr-news/|title=A note from MPR News|work=Capitol View|access-date=January 22, 2018|language=en-US}} Flanagan married Weber in September 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-marries-former-public-radio-reporter-tom-weber/560419572/|title=Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan marries former MPR reporter Tom Weber|website=Star Tribune|date=September 16, 2019 }}

Flanagan's brother, Ron Golden, died of COVID-19 in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Guthrey |first1=Molly |title=MN Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on losing brother to coronavirus: 'We just ran out of time.' |url=https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/24/mn-lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-brother-coronavirus-tennessee/ |work=Pioneer Press |date=March 25, 2020}} His death was the second one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Berkel |first=Jessie Van |date=2020-03-24 |title=Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan's brother dies of COVID-19 |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-s-brother-dies-of-covid-19/569024192 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Minnesota Star Tribune |language=en}}

In February 2020, the National Congress of American Indians gave Flanagan the Native American Leadership Award for her work raising awareness of Native issues and improving lives of Indigenous people.{{cite news |last1=Rinehart |first1=Jake |title=Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan receives Native American Leadership Award |url=https://www.keyc.com/2020/02/13/lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-receives-native-american-leadership-award/ |access-date=27 June 2025 |work=KEYC-TV |date=February 12, 2020}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election{{cite web |title=2022 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2022/2022-general-election-results/ |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}{{cite web | url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/CountyStatisticsStatewide/Index?ersElectionId=149 | title=- Election Results }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Tim Walz/Peggy Flanagan (incumbent)|votes=1,312,311|percentage=52.27%|change=−1.57%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Scott Jensen/Matt Birk|votes=1,119,911|percentage=44.61%|change=+2.18%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Legal Marijuana Now Party|candidate=James McCaskel/David Sandbeck|votes=29,435|percentage=1.17%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party|candidate=Steve Patterson/Matt Huff|votes=22,604|percentage=0.90%|change=−1.75%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independence Party of Minnesota|candidate=Hugh McTavish/Mike Winter|votes=18,156|percentage=0.72%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Gabrielle Prosser/Kevin Dwire|votes=7,240|percentage=0.29%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

| votes =1,026

| percentage =0.04%

| change =0.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Tim Walz/Peggy Flanagan|votes=1,393,008|percentage=53.84%|change=+3.77%|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Jeff Johnson/Donna Bergstrom|votes=1,097,682|percentage=42.43%|change=−2.08%|}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Grassroots Party|candidate=Chris Wright/Judith Schwartzbacker|votes=68,664|percentage=2.65%|change=n/a|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Josh Welter/Mary O'Connor|votes=26,736|percentage=1.03%|change=n/a|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=|candidate=Write-In|votes=26,736|percentage=1.03%|change=n/a|}}

{{Election box majority|votes=295,326|percentage=11.41%|change=|}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2016 Minnesota State Representative district 46A election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Peggy Flanagan|votes=15,187|percentage=63.85%|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Anne Taylor|votes=8,525|percentage=35.84%|}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=|candidate=Write-In|votes=72|percentage=0.30%|}}

{{Election box majority no change|votes=6,662|percentage=28.01%|}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Nov. 3, 2015 Minnesota State Representative district 46A special election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Peggy Flanagan|votes=3,137|percentage=96.40%|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=|candidate=Write-In|votes=117|percentage=3.60%|}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2004 Minneapolis School Board Election (elect 3)}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=Peggy Flanagan|votes=71,907|percentage=23.72%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=Lydia Lee|votes=68,694|percentage=22.66%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=Sharon Henry-Blythe (i)|votes=44,759|percentage=14.76%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=Dennis Shapiro (i)|votes=42,739|percentage=14.10%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=Sandra Miller|votes=42,638|percentage=14.06%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=Non-partisan|candidate=David Dayhoff|votes=30,367|percentage=10.02%|}}

{{Election box candidate no change|party=|candidate=Write-in|votes=2,094|percentage=0.69%|}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Portal|Minnesota}}

• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
• List of Native American politicians

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• [https://peggyflanagan.com/ Campaign website]

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{{Current Minnesota statewide political officials}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:20th-century Native American people

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