{"id":2689144,"date":"2026-10-21T18:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-show-minnesotas-democratic-senate-nominee-peggy-flanagan-lied-about-her-past-report\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T18:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:05:00","slug":"records-show-minnesotas-democratic-senate-nominee-peggy-flanagan-lied-about-her-past-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-show-minnesotas-democratic-senate-nominee-peggy-flanagan-lied-about-her-past-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Records Show Minnesota&#8217;s Democratic Senate Nominee Peggy Flanagan Lied About Her Past: Report"},"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\">26<\/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%2Frecords-show-minnesotas-democratic-senate-nominee-peggy-flanagan-lied-about-her-past-report%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=2689144&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 class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Minnesota Democratic Senate Nominee Peggy Flanagan said she \u201cgraduated Phi Beta Kappa\u201d from the University of Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p>However, a\u00a0Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/minnesotas-democratic-u-s-senate-nominee-inflated-academic-record-9a943662?st=QnE5xV&#038;reflink=desktopweb_permalink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> cast doubt on the claim, prompting Flanagan\u2019s campaign to acknowledge that she was never inducted.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, then-Rep. and now Lt. Gov. Flanagan stood before the Minnesota House and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.house.mn.gov\/sessiondaily\/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">affirmed<\/a>, \u201cI graduated Phi Beta Kappa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbk.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Phi Beta Kappa<\/a> is often considered the nation\u2019s most prestigious academic honors society. However, the Wall Street Journal reported. Flanagan\u2019s commencement <a href=\"https:\/\/conservancy.umn.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/f7d67154-e92e-476d-90f8-93df4b90eca7\/content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">program<\/a> does not list <em>any\u00a0<\/em>academic honor under her name.<\/p>\n<p>Phi Beta Kappa admission at the University of Minnesota requires a 3.65 GPA, yet the University of Minnesota acknowledges Latin honors down to 3.5.<\/p>\n<p>Flanagan received none of these.<\/p>\n<p>In response to this apparent discrepancy, the Wall Street Journal asked Flanagan\u2019s campaign on Oct. 12 to provide proof of her membership.<\/p>\n<p>Eight days later, campaign spokeswoman Alexandra Fetissoff responded, acknowledging that Flanagan never belonged to Phi Beta Kappa:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lieutenant governor was nominated for Phi Beta Kappa, but like too many other students, she couldn\u2019t afford the application fees to become a part of the honor society,\u201d Fetissoff said.<\/p>\n<p>The Wall Street Journal could not verify this claim and responded by pointing out that \u201c[t]he current lifetime membership fee at the University of Minnesota is $99, although it was likely considerably less more than two decades ago,\u201d and that \u201c[m]any chapters also waive the fee or make other accommodations in cases of financial hardship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the commencement program also revealed that Flanagan graduated with only one major, child psychology, even though her official government <a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/governor\/about-gov\/peggyflanagan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biography<\/a> reportedly implied a double major:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in American Indian studies and child psychology\u201d in 2002 from the University of Minnesota, the news outlet quoted, though the government link they provided now reads, \u201cShe earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in child psychology and a minor in American Indian studies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These accusations of lying coincide with a recent rise in the <a href=\"https:\/\/fiftyplusone.news\/polls\/senate\/general\/minnesota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">polls<\/a> for Republican challenger and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/elections\/the-nfl-sideline-reporter-trading-broadcasting-for-a-high-stakes-senate-run-c5d87109?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tafoya<\/a>, Minnesota voters\u00a0almost always mention fraud first in conversation. \u201cThey feel lied to, which they were. They feel stolen from, which they were,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are so angry, and they\u2019re even angrier no one in the government has been held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have held the contested seat since 2009, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/10\/17\/nx-s1-6004910\/minn-us-senate-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">analysts<\/a> note that Lt. Gov. Flanagan\u2019s proximity to Governor Tim Walz may hurt the campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Her Democratic primary opponent, Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., said as much during a Minnesota Public Radio <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2026\/07\/27\/angie-craig-peggy-flanagan-senate-race-debate-hosted-by-mpr-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">debate<\/a>. \u201cThe lieutenant governor, even as we sit here today, continues to take absolutely no accountability for any of the fraud issues, and she continues to blame the governor,\u201d Craig said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to be honest: It\u2019s pissing me off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MPR reported Craig saying that \u201cFlanagan has shirked responsibility for fraud that took root while she served as second in command in state government alongside Gov. Tim Walz.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tafoya has made government accountability central to her platform, quoting Minnesota\u2019s standing in national news: \u201cWe have become a national punchline.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minnesota Democratic Senate Nominee Peggy Flanagan said she \u201cgraduated Phi Beta Kappa\u201d from the University of Minnesota. However, a\u00a0Wall Street Journal report cast doubt on the claim, prompting Flanagan\u2019s campaign to acknowledge that she was never inducted. In 2016, then-Rep. and now Lt. Gov. Flanagan stood before the Minnesota House and affirmed, \u201cI graduated Phi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2689145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Peggy-Flanagan-lied-about-past.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2689144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Peggy-Flanagan-lied-about-past.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689144","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2689144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689144\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2689145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2689144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2689144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2689144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}