Ellison endorses Flanagan for Senate

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison endorsed Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s seat in a video announcement posted Monday.

The video, posted to Flanagan’s personal X account, shows Ellison and Flanagan seated opposite one another at a table and Ellison saying, “I’ve always thought you’d be a great United States senator.” Flanagan responds that it “just so happens” that she’s running for Senate, to which Ellison says, “I think you should do it and I support you and I hope other people do, too … You go get ’em!”

Ellison is the first major state Democrat to endorse Flanagan’s bid for Senate, as Smith and Gov. Tim Walz both said they’re opting out of endorsing a candidate before the primary. The endorsement also rules out a bid from Ellison, something he previously said he was considering.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the people’s lawyer and my friend: MN Attorney General Keith Ellison,” Flanagan said on X Monday. “Keith has been fighting against Trump’s attacks on behalf of Minnesotans.”

Flanagan was the first to throw her hat in the race after Smith announced on Feb. 13 that she would not be seeking reelection. Former DFL state Sen. Melisa López Franzen, who represented the southwestern Twin Cities suburbs, has also announced a bid for the seat.

U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Ilhan Omar are also considering entering the race.

Various Republicans, none of whom have held elective office, have also entered the race: 2024 U.S. Senate candidate Royce White; veteran Adam Schwarze; veteran Raymond Peterson; and Mike Ruoho, a restaurant executive.

Independent Marissa Simonetti, a former candidate for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, is also seeking the seat.

— Forum News Service

Gun report puts 2 schools on edge

Two Woodbury schools took extra security measures Monday after a report that a student at Woodbury High School may have had a gun on school grounds, according to letters home to parents.

As staff was escorting the student to the office in the afternoon, the student left the building and fled school grounds, Woodbury High School Principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner wrote.

Woodbury police and other law enforcement searched near the school, at Woodland Drive and Courtly Road, and apprehended an 18-year-old on Monday afternoon. The incident stemmed from the report that a person fled from the high school and had a firearm, according to Woodbury Public Safety Cmdr. John Altman.

Police had not found a firearm as of Monday afternoon, Altman said, adding there was still a K-9 search underway. The teen was arrested on suspicion of threats of violence and fleeing from police on foot.

Woodbury High School and Royal Oaks Elementary principals both wrote to parents that they followed “standard safety procedures” by bringing students indoors, keeping them inside the school and verifying all exterior doors were secured or locking them. The precautions were in place for about 30 minutes at both schools, the letters said.

The investigation is ongoing, Sorenson-Wagner wrote.

— Mara H. Gottfried