Out Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) has announced that she is running for the U.S. Senate.

In a video announcing her Senate campaign, she slammed the president and Elon Musk, accusing the former of “trampling our rights and freedoms as he profits for personal gain” and Musk of trying to “take over our government and burn it to the ground.”

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She then describes growing up in a trailer park and being raised by a single mother. “Nobody gave us much of a chance,” she says in the voiceover.

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“My wife Cheryl and I fought like hell to be parents of our four wonderful boys as some people, even a state government, tried to stop us,” she said, showing video of her family.

Craig was referring to her three-year legal battle to adopt her son, Josh, in the state of Tennessee, which she discussed several years ago with Family Equality.

“When you wake up for three years of your life, not knowing that the child you’re raising is going to stay with you for one more day… it changes you as a person,” she said. She is the first out lesbian mother in Congress.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection in 2026, and Craig immediately said that she was considering a run for Senate.

“I’ll be talking to Minnesotans in the weeks ahead about the best way to continue to serve my community and will make a decision in the near future,” she posted to X in February.

Gov. Tim Walz (D), who just ran for vice president, announced later that month that he wouldn’t run for Senate. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) already announced her campaign for Senate last month.

If Craig wins both the primary and the general election, she would join Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as the only other out LGBTQ+ senator.

Out gay Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) also announced a Senate run last month. If he wins, he’ll be the first out gay man elected to the Senate.

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