{"id":2402279,"date":"2025-02-13T12:05:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tina-smith-announces-retirement-expanding-2026-senate-map-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-13T12:05:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:05:43","slug":"tina-smith-announces-retirement-expanding-2026-senate-map-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tina-smith-announces-retirement-expanding-2026-senate-map-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Tina Smith announces retirement, expanding 2026 Senate map &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftina-smith-announces-retirement-expanding-2026-senate-map-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2402279&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator \u200bTina Smith (D-MN) announced her retirement from the Senate, effective in 2026, presenting a challenge for Democrats as they must defend \u2063another\u2064 seat\u200b in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-not-seeking-3rd-term-in-2022-is-probably-my-preference\/\" title=\"Johnson: Not seeking 3rd term in 2022 is probably my preference\">upcoming midterm elections<\/a>.\u200d Smith has served in the Senate since 2018, after\u200c being appointed to replace Al Franken. She emphasized that her decision \u200dwas personal,motivated by a desire to spend more time with her grandchildren in Minneapolis,rather than political reasons. Her retirement comes at a time when Democrats are already facing difficulties defending seats in swing states; last month, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) also decided not to seek re-election. Smith&#8217;s departure might \u200cbolster Republican chances of maintaining their Senate majority, as the political landscape continues to shift. The retirement has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/author-of-california-child-privacy-law-paused-by-court-sees-strong-appeal-prospects\/\" title=\"Court pauses California child privacy law author; strong appeal prospects seen.\">sparked \u2063interest<\/a> among potential Democratic candidates, including Minnesota Governor \u200bTim Walz.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Tina Smith announces retirement, expanding&nbsp;2026 Senate map&nbsp;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1993150\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tina-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Tina Smith<\/a> (D-MN) announced she will retire from the Senate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">2026<\/a>, forcing Democrats to defend another seat in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Minnesota<\/a> is a Democratic-leaning state, with Smith winning a full term in 2020 by 5 points against her Republican challenger. But her decision to retire will force the party to stretch its resources even further across the map without an incumbent in a growing number of swing states.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) also announced he will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3302634\/gary-peters-will-not-seek-reelection-michigan-senate-open-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">not run for another term<\/a> in Michigan, a perennial battleground.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smith said her own decision to retire was not driven by political calculations, citing a desire to spend more time with her grandchildren in Minneapolis. She has served in the Senate since 2018, when she was appointed to replace scandal-plagued Sen. Al Franken. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This decision is not political. It is entirely personal,&rdquo; she said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">video announcing<\/a> her retirement.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&rsquo;ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I&rsquo;ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you so much, Minnesota. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3sWVib8nKJ\">pic.twitter.com\/3sWVib8nKJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenTinaSmith\/status\/1890068717486452772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Smith&rsquo;s retirement buoys Republican hopes of maintaining their Senate majority next year. They have a less favorable map than the 2024 elections, when they picked up four seats.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But several vulnerable GOP incumbents plan to run for reelection, including Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina and Susan Collins in Maine.<\/p>\n<p>In Minnesota, Smith&rsquo;s retirement has already sparked Democratic jockeying for her seat. Gov. Tim Walz, the sitting governor who ran for vice president in the 2024 election, is among those considering a run, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ec_schneider\/status\/1890077565672677447?s=51&amp;t=oYTIYwEqmPpaQCOEPM8xZA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according to<\/a> <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1993150\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1993150\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tina Smith&#8217;s retirement in 2026 expands the Senate map<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2402280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tina-smith-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[42974,7620,50331,50330],"class_list":["post-2402279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2026-elections","tag-retirement","tag-senate-map","tag-tina-smith"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/tina-smith-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2402279"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2402283,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402279\/revisions\/2402283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2402280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2402279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2402279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2402279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}