Tina Smith

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Tina Smith
Image of Tina Smith

Candidate, U.S. Senate Minnesota

U.S. Senate Minnesota
Tenure

2018 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

6

Predecessor
Prior offices
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Compensation

Base salary

$174,000

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 3, 2020

Next election

November 3, 2026

Appointed

January 3, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

Stanford University

Graduate

Dartmouth College

Personal
Profession
Chief of Staff To Gov. Dayton
Contact

Tina Smith (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. Senate from Minnesota. She assumed office on January 3, 2018. Her current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Smith (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent Minnesota. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Smith succeeded former Senator Al Franken (D). She assumed office on January 3, 2018.[1]

Smith won a full term in the special general election for the position on November 6, 2018. She defeated Karin Housley (R), Sarah Wellington (Legal Marijuana Now Party), and Jerry Trooien (Unaffiliated) to win the seat. She advanced to the general election after defeating five challengers in the special Democratic primary election on August 14, 2018.

Smith previously served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Minnesota. She was elected to the position on a joint ticket with incumbent Governor Mark Dayton on November 4, 2014, and was sworn into office on January 5, 2015.[2][3][4]

See also: Resignation of Al Franken, 2017

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2023-2024

Smith was assigned to the following committees:[Source]

2021-2022

Smith was assigned to the following committees:[Source]

2019-2020

Smith was assigned to the following committees:[Source]


Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023
Vote Bill and description Status
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (87-13)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (87-11)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (88-9)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (63-36)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (68-23)
Red x.svg Nay Red x.svg Failed (50-49)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (50-46)


Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Elections

2026

See also: United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated. Before the candidate filing deadline passes, Ballotpedia will separate these candidates into their respective primaries as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Incumbent Tina Smith and Raymond Petersen are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Tina Smith
Tina Smith (D)
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Raymond Petersen (R)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2020

See also: United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020

United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Minnesota

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tina Smith
Tina Smith (D)
 
48.8
 
1,566,522
Image of Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis (R)
 
43.6
 
1,398,145
Image of Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O'Connor (Legal Marijuana Now Party)
 
5.8
 
185,064
Image of Oliver Steinberg
Oliver Steinberg (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)
 
1.8
 
57,174
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Rob Barrett Jr. (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
22
Image of George Dennis Jr.
George Dennis Jr. (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
5
Image of Steve Carlson
Steve Carlson (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
3
Image of John Berman
John Berman (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
2
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jason Shaver (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Image of Josh Ondich
Josh Ondich (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
2,261

Total votes: 3,209,198
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Incumbent Tina Smith defeated Paula Overby, Ahmad Hassan, Steve Carlson, and Christopher Seymore in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tina Smith
Tina Smith
 
87.1
 
497,501
Image of Paula Overby
Paula Overby
 
5.3
 
30,497
Image of Ahmad Hassan
Ahmad Hassan
 
3.5
 
20,037
Image of Steve Carlson
Steve Carlson Candidate Connection
 
2.9
 
16,429
Image of Christopher Seymore
Christopher Seymore
 
1.1
 
6,480

Total votes: 570,944
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Jason Lewis defeated Cynthia Gail, John Berman, Bob Carney Jr., and James Reibestein in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis
 
78.1
 
191,288
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Cynthia Gail
 
7.2
 
17,675
Image of John Berman
John Berman
 
6.6
 
16,212
Image of Bob Carney Jr.
Bob Carney Jr.
 
4.3
 
10,503
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James Reibestein
 
3.8
 
9,210

Total votes: 244,888
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Oliver Steinberg advanced from the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Oliver Steinberg
Oliver Steinberg
 
100.0
 
3,275

Total votes: 3,275
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Kevin O'Connor advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O'Connor
 
100.0
 
6,996

Total votes: 6,996
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.


2018

See also: United States Senate special election in Minnesota, 2018
See also: United States Senate special election in Minnesota (August 14, 2018 Democratic primary)

General election

Special general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Incumbent Tina Smith defeated Karin Housley, Sarah Wellington, and Jerry Trooien in the special general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tina Smith
Tina Smith (D)
 
53.0
 
1,370,540
Image of Karin Housley
Karin Housley (R)
 
42.4
 
1,095,777
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Sarah Wellington (Legal Marijuana Now Party)
 
3.7
 
95,614
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jerry Trooien (Unaffiliated) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
24,324
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
1,101

Total votes: 2,587,356
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tina Smith
Tina Smith
 
76.1
 
433,705
Image of Richard Painter
Richard Painter
 
13.7
 
78,193
Image of Ali Chehem Ali
Ali Chehem Ali Candidate Connection
 
3.3
 
18,897
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Gregg Iverson
 
3.1
 
17,825
Image of Nick Leonard
Nick Leonard
 
2.9
 
16,529
Image of Christopher Seymore
Christopher Seymore
 
0.9
 
5,041

Total votes: 570,190
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Karin Housley defeated Bob Anderson and Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey in the special Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Karin Housley
Karin Housley
 
62.0
 
186,384
Image of Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson
 
35.6
 
107,102
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey
 
2.5
 
7,375

Total votes: 300,861
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Minnesota lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014

Smith ran on the Democratic Party ticket for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 2014.

The gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial race featured five tickets seeking election to a four-year term. Gubernatorial incumbent Mark Dayton (D) ran with Smith, who replaced Yvonne Prettner Solon as lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket. Dayton and Smith faced Republican challengers Jeff Johnson and Bill Kuisle. The general election ballot also included Libertarian ticket Chris Holbrook and Chris Dock, Grassroots Party ticket Chris Wright and David Daniels and Independence Party ticket Hannah Nicollet and Tim Gieseke. Dayton and Smith won the general election on November 4, 2014.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMark Dayton/Tina Smith Incumbent 50.1% 989,113
     Republican Jeff Johnson/Bill Kuisle 44.5% 879,257
     Independence Hannah Nicollet/Tim Gieseke 2.9% 56,900
     Grassroots Party Chris Wright/David Daniels 1.6% 31,259
     Libertarian Chris Holbrook/Chris Dock 0.9% 18,082
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.1% 1,134
Total Votes 1,975,745
Election results via Minnesota Secretary of State
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Dayton/Tina Smith 93% 177,849
Leslie Davis/Gregory K. Soderberg 4.5% 8,530
Bill Dahn/James Vigliotti 2.6% 4,880
Total Votes 191,259
Election results via Minnesota Secretary of State.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Tina Smith has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Tina Smith asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Tina Smith, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 21,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Tina Smith to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@tinaforminnesota.com.

Twitter

Email


2020

Tina Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Smith's campaign website stated the following:

The Minnesota Way Forward

A few Americans are just born into opportunity. They’re handed all the tools, and all the connections, and all the capital it takes to build any kind of life they can imagine. And as Tina’s dad would say, good for them. But for the majority of Americans, opportunity isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you have to earn through hard work.

And Tina is willing to do the work and work hard. Her belief is grounded in what she knows to be true about fellow Minnesotans: we get together to solve problems, to lift each other up, to find and stand on common ground. We’re creative, we’re practical, and we don’t just complain about what’s holding us back — we come up with solutions.

Tina knows that the wealthy and powerful are no match for the people of this state when we join our voices together, fight for the value and dignity of our work, and each do our part to make a generation of progress a reality. And when hard work isn’t enough, she’s ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Minnesotans to make sure opportunity is available. As long as Tina has the honor of serving as your Senator, she’s going to keep using her voice to speak up and fight for the American values that are under attack every day.

A Strong and Diverse Economy

With a diverse economy and economic opportunity, businesses can grow and workers can get better pay and better jobs. But now, as the country faces unprecedented times, Tina is working hard to make sure Minnesota’s workers and small businesses have access to the resources they need. Tina knows the importance of rebuilding American manufacturing, building an American medical supply chain, and finding common ground to rebuild the middle class.

Learn more.

Affordable High-Quality Health Care

Every Minnesota family deserves high-quality health care they can afford. And now more than ever, as the country faces an unprecedented health crisis, Tina is committed to fighting for affordable health care, because nobody should have to choose between paying for health care and putting food on the table.

Learn more.

Quality Education for All Minnesotans

Education is the engine of opportunity and it ought to be available to all of us, not just some of us. Tina understands that education drives opportunity and it should be affordable and accessible to everyone.

Learn more.

Action on Gun Violence

We can address the epidemic of gun violence with common-sense reforms.

Learn more.

Supporting Minnesota’s Farmers and Rural Communities

Agriculture is at the heart of Minnesota’s economy. Tina is focused on making sure Minnesota farmers have a strong voice in Congress.

Learn more.

Women’s Economic Health and Security

Women still don’t have equal autonomy, opportunity, or pay as men do. As the only Senator to have worked for Planned Parenthood, Tina knows the importance of fighting for reproductive justice.

Learn more.

Protecting and Preserving Social Security

Social Security is the bedrock of economic and retirement security of the American middle class. Tina believes we should expand Social Security and ensure that it remains solvent in the long term.

Learn more.

Supporting our Veterans

One of our most solemn duties is to take care of the people who served in our armed forces. Tina is committed to making sure they receive and have access to the benefits they’ve earned.

Learn more.

Standing up for our LGBTQ+ Family

Every American deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Tina believes we need to defend the progress that has been made for LGBTQ+ equality and fight the injustices that still exist for too many LGBTQ+ Americans.

Learn more.

Tribal Communities

We must stand shoulder to shoulder with our Native communities and hear their needs and see their contributions.

Learn more.

Protecting our Environment

We need to address climate change, protect our country’s national treasures, and fight back against efforts by this Administration to roll back responsible environmental policy.

Learn more.

Dreamers and Immigrants

Minnesota’s communities are strong because of our immigrant neighbors and friends. We need to make sure our immigration system is one that is reflective of our country’s values and needs and one that prioritizes the dignity of the individuals seeking opportunity in the United States.

Learn more.

Taking on Special Interests and Campaign Finance Reform

We need to end the influence of corporate special interests and dark money on politicians. Tina believes we will only be able to build an economy that works for everyone if we reform this broken system.

Learn more.

Strengthening Collective Bargaining Rights

When workers are able to join together to fight for livable wages, a safe work environment, and quality benefits for their families, we all do better. That’s why Tina believes that collective bargaining is a fundamental right for workers, and makes for stronger communities and families.

Learn more.

Trade

Trade plays a critical role in Minnesota’s economy. Tina supports fair trade, but knows trade can’t be a one-size fits all approach.

Learn more.

Supporting Arts and Culture

Arts and culture are an important part of Minnesota’s identity, economy, and quality of life. That’s why Tina is committed to sustaining and advancing arts and cultural opportunities for all.

Learn more.

Justice for George Floyd and Transforming Policing

Tina wants justice for George Floyd, and justice includes accountability for all the officers who were involved in his murder. Tina also says we need to face up to the disparities in opportunity that hurt Black, Brown and Indigenous people every day, and we need to use this moment to take action.

Learn more.[93]

—Tina Smith's campaign website (2020)[94]


2018

Campaign website

Smith’s campaign website stated the following:


Tina is a fierce advocate for a Minnesota that works for everyone – not just the lucky few. And she knows that when we work together and put Minnesota values first, nothing can stop us from turning that vision into reality.

The Minnesota Way Forward

It’s true: we are living through one of the most challenging times in the history of our country. Many of those in Washington seem to think their job is to take care of the wealthy and powerful – at the expense of working and middle-class families.

But Tina believes that things can – and will – change for the better. Her belief is grounded in what she knows to be true about fellow Minnesotans: we get together to solve problems, to lift each other up, to find and stand on common ground. We’re creative, we’re practical, and we don’t just complain about what’s holding us back – we come up with solutions.

Tina knows they’re no match for the people of this state when we come together, stand shoulder to shoulder, and each do our part to create the reality Paul Wellstone described where "we all do better when we all do better."

A Strong and Diverse Economy

Tina is a fierce advocate for economic opportunity and a diverse economy that works for everyone so that businesses grow and workers get better jobs and better pay. To build a diverse economy, Tina believes we need to invest in manufacturing and technology, help small businesses grow and create jobs, and expand our agriculture economy.

Tina championed raising the minimum wage in Minnesota. She supports expanding paid family and medical leave so that parents can stay home to take care of their children and family members without the worry of losing a paycheck. Tina introduced a bill in the Senate to develop more local partnerships to promote career and skill training opportunities

Workforce for Today’s Economy

Tina recognizes that not every young person in Minnesota will go to a four-year college, or that they want to. That is why she travels the state bringing together high schools, two-year community and technical colleges and local businesses to promote career and skill training opportunities. In fact, she recently introduced a bill in the Senate to help develop more of these partnerships. Tina is committed to finding solutions to help ensure Minnesotans have the skills to fill high-demand jobs and help close the skills gap.

Affordable High-Quality Health Care

Every Minnesota family deserves access to high-quality health care that they can afford. When Tina talks to Minnesotans, the number one issue she hears about is the rising cost of healthcare – including the cost of prescription drugs. That is why Tina supports universal health care, is working to hold Big Pharma responsible, and fighting for solutions to save Minnesotans money.

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs

The first bill Tina introduced would help to lower the cost of prescription drugs by addressing a corporate loophole that giant drug companies use to game the system and keep affordable generic drugs off the market. This unfair practice makes it harder for seniors, families, and all Minnesotans with medical needs to afford life-saving drugs.

Tina is not only pushing legislation, she also wrote letters to Big Pharma CEOs asking them what they did with the money they got from the GOP tax bill and whether the money was used to lower prescription drug prices for consumers.

Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

Too many Minnesotans are losing their lives to the opioid epidemic. That is why Tina is working with community leaders, health care professionals, and lawmakers to find a bipartisan solution for the opioid crisis.

  • In the Senate, she is supporting a bill that would require prescription drug companies to pay a “penny-a-pill” and help fund treatment options to end this devastating epidemic that is plaguing our communities.
  • As Lt. Governor, Tina also advocated for better prevention and treatment options.

Expanding Mental Health Services in our Schools

Tina wrote legislation with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska to help expand mental health services in school and local communities to ensure our children, wherever they live, have access to the resources they need.

Quality Education for All Minnesotans

Every student deserves a strong public education system from early childhood to adulthood that prepares them for the workforce.

All-Day Kindergarten

As Lt. Governor, Tina fought an uphill battle to establish all-day kindergarten for all Minnesota children. Supporting our littlest learners improves access to education and helps close the achievement gap while saving parents from costly childcare expenses.

College Affordability

The student debt crisis is out of control. As tuition continues to skyrocket, Tina hears from too many Minnesotans facing financial uncertainty from looming student loans. That’s why Tina is working with Senator Elizabeth Warren to help reduce the burden of student debt by allowing people to refinance their student loans at lower rates. On top of tuition, textbooks add to the amount students need to spend. To address this, Tina helped secure $5 million to be used for a pilot that helps allows students to cut down on the expense of costly textbooks.

Action on Gun Violence

Tina is working to pass common-sense reforms to help end needless gun violence. That is why Tina is standing up to the NRA and working to ensure all people can feel safe at their schools, in their communities, and at their places of worship. Tina has never and will never take money from the NRA.

Common-sense Reforms

Now is the time to pass much-needed gun reforms. Tina is the cosponsor of bills to expand background checks and to ban the sale of bump stocks, assault weapons, and high-capacity magazines. She is also working with Senator Amy Klobuchar to ban people convicted of stalking from having firearms.

Support Minnesota Traditions

Tina understands and respects Minnesota's long-standing hunting traditions. As a hunter and angler, Tina will work with Minnesotans to urge Congress to make our communities safer.

Supporting Minnesota’s Farmers and Rural Communities

A growing agricultural economy and vibrant rural communities are the heart of Minnesota. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, Tina is working to pass a Farm Bill that invests in Minnesota farmers and rural communities, and expands essential broadband infrastructure across the state.

Working with Minnesota Farmers

Tina fought for a spot on the Agriculture Committee because agriculture touches every community in Minnesota. That's why Tina travels across the state to meet with farmers in their community and listen to what matters to them. Tina is working to pass a Farm Bill that prioritizes Minnesota farmers by investing in farm-to-table programs that bring locally grown food to Minnesota schools and restaurants; including strong safety net programs for those dealing with low commodity prices, and keeping nutrition assistance programs in the bill.

Tina has also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to expand Minnesota's farm exports by helping farmers, rural cooperatives, and small businesses sell more commodities abroad.

Expand Rural Broadband

Access to reliable and affordable broadband is critical for rural and tribal communities. That is why Tina has introduced a bill to increase available funding for broadband projects in tribal communities and in remote and low-income areas. Tina’s bill would expand broadband to areas that are not currently served, allowing Minnesotans the opportunity to connect, compete, and create the lives they want.

Affordable Housing Across Minnesota

In many places in rural Minnesota, there is a devastating lack of affordable housing. Tina has introduced legislation to help Minnesotans afford to stay in their homes by maintaining rental assistance through the Rural Housing Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It's important we do everything we can to help families and seniors stay in their homes and their communities.

Women’s Economic Health and Security

Women deserve economic opportunity and fairness as well as reproductive freedom. As Lt. Governor, Tina helped develop and pass landmark bipartisan legislation which works to close the gender pay gap by helping to ensure equal pay for equal work, increases workplace protections, and expands medical family leave. Tina is leading on this issue in the Senate as well.

Equal Pay

While we have made progress as a nation toward closing the long-standing gender pay gap, women, especially women of color, earn far less than then men on average. That is why Tina is co-sponsoring The Paycheck Fairness Act to addresses this by helping to ensure all women can succeed.

Pro-Choice

Tina is a strong advocate for women’s health. As a former Planned Parenthood executive, she deeply respects the right of women to make the best healthcare decisions for themselves and their families – and is committed to protecting this right.

Supporting our Veterans

Tina is strongly committed to making sure we support our veterans and their families.

Hire Veterans

Veterans make a selfless commitment to our country, and they deserve the utmost respect when they return home. That is why Tina is working with Minnesota businesses so that they hire veterans – making sure that when vets return home, they get the support they need and opportunities they deserve.

Quality and Timely Health Care for Veterans

Veterans should have access to quality, timely health care. That is why Tina is committed to pushing the Department of Veterans Affairs to end the backlog of cases so that veterans don't have to wait months to get treatment – which can put the lives of patients at risk.

Standing up for our LGBTQ Family

We need to defend the progress that’s been made for LGBTQ equality and fight the injustices that still exist for too many LGBTQ Americans. That is why Tina pushed to pass marriage equality making Minnesota the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage, that’s why she pushed for legislation to prevent bullying in Minnesota schools, and why she is supporting a bill to make it illegal to fire someone for being LGBTQ.

Tribal Communities

Tina is working closely with Minnesota’s eleven tribal communities to make sure they have the resources and support to address critical issues like the lack of housing, workforce needs, the opioid crisis, and holding non-native people responsible for crimes committed on tribal land.

Tina introduced the Community Connect Grant Program to help increase available funding for broadband projects in tribal communities. Expanding broadband to areas that are not currently served is essential to making sure Minnesotans can connect, compete, and create the lives they want.

She also introduced a bill to help tribal communities in Minnesota address the opioid crisis by making sure they have the resources to tackle this issue in a way that works for tribal communities; and has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host an opioid roundtable in Minnesota to hear from farmers, tribal communities and families dealing with this epidemic.

Protecting our Environment

It is the Minnesota way of life to enjoy all four seasons in the magnificent parks and trails across the state. As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Tina has made it a priority to protect our land, water, and air, while working with innovative, clean energy businesses to grow jobs. That is why she supports the Paris Agreement to fight climate change, and why she is a champion for growing Minnesota’s strong clean energy economy.

Protection for Dreamers and Immigrants

We need to stand up with immigrant communities and protect those facing unfair deportation.

  • Tina supports a pathway to citizenship for DREAMERS and opposes the President's actions to end DACA
  • She pushed to prevent the President’s unfair and unnecessary deportation agenda impacting Minnesota’s Liberian community
  • Tina introduced the HELP Separated Children Act to help force ICE to defend families, not separate them

Taking on Special Interests and Campaign Finance Reform

It’s time to end the system of unlimited dark money that is corrupting our elections. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of unlimited, unaccountable political campaign spending making it easy for billionaires and special interest groups to secretly spend billions to sway elections. That’s why Tina supports a Constitutional Amendment that would reverse the Citizens United decision and end the ridiculous influence of corporate money in politics.

Strengthening Unions and Fighting Unfair Trade Deals

Unions play a critical role in Minnesota’s economy – they provide workers with livable wages, a safe work environment and quality benefits for their families. That’s why Tina supports working together at the state and federal level to strengthen the rights for people to organize, collectively improve working conditions, and protect their pensions.

Protect Hard-Earned Pensions

Tina was appointed to the newly created bipartisan committee on pensions to address the crisis that is putting the pensions of more than 22,000 retired Minnesotans at risk. Tina is concerned that allowing pension plans to fail will create a ripple effect that would devastate Minnesota families, businesses, and communities. Minnesotans who have worked and paid into their retirement plan their whole lives should not have to worry about how they take care of themselves when they retire. That is why Tina will fight to protect the pensions of hard-working Minnesotans.

End Harmful Trade Policies

Minnesota's Iron Range is an essential part of our economy, and illegal steel dumping puts too many jobs in Minnesota's Northland at risk. Tina's first trip as Senator was to Eveleth, Minnesota – the heart of the Iron Range – to listen to the issues steelworkers are currently facing. She pressed President Trump to take action to combat foreign steel imports that were threatening our national security, and she supports efforts to end steel dumping and hold foreign governments who don't play by the rules accountable.

As the trade discussion in Washington continues, Tina has pushed the President to support trade policies that help Minnesota communities and businesses.[95][93]

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Tina Smith
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Matt Norris  source  (D) Minnesota House of Representatives District 32B (2024) GeneralWon General
Kamala D. Harris  source  (D, Working Families Party) President of the United States (2024) PrimaryLost General
Colin Allred  source  (D) U.S. Senate Texas (2024) PrimaryLost General
Joe Biden  source  (D, Working Families Party) President of the United States (2020) PrimaryWon General
Amy Klobuchar  source President of the United States (2020) Withdrew in Convention
Notable ballot measure endorsements by Tina Smith
MeasurePositionOutcome
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Question 2, Replace Police Department with Department of Public Safety Initiative (November 2021)  source OpposeDefeated

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Tina Smith campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2020U.S. Senate MinnesotaWon general$16,468,405 $16,100,432
2018U.S. Senate MinnesotaWon general$9,221,474 $8,787,691
2014Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota*Won $2,940,013 N/A**
Grand total$28,629,891 $24,888,123
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Politico, "Franken to resign from Senate in January," December 20, 2017
  2. Minnesota.gov, "Governor Mark Dayton, Lt. Governor Tina Smith: Lt. Gov. Tina Smith," accessed January 6, 2015
  3. Minnesota Office of Lieutenant Governor, "Home," accessed January 6, 2015
  4. Patrick Condon, Star-Tribune, "Lt. Gov. Tina Smith's high-profile role fuels speculation about her political future," October 10, 2015
  5. Congress.gov, "H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024," accessed February 27, 2024
  6. Congress.gov, "H.R.6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024," accessed February 27, 2024
  7. Congress.gov, "H.R.5860 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act," accessed February 27, 2024
  8. Congress.gov, "H.R.3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," accessed February 27, 2024
  9. Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020." accessed February 23, 2024
  10. Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.44 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'"" accessed February 28, 2024
  11. Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to 'Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'." accessed February 23, 2024
  12. Congress.gov, "H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," accessed April 15, 2022
  13. Congress.gov, "H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022
  14. Congress.gov, "H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
  15. Congress.gov, "S.1605 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022," accessed April 15, 2022
  16. Congress.gov, "H.R.7776 - James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
  17. Congress.gov, "S.3373 - Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
  18. Congress.gov, "H.R.4346 - Chips and Science Act," accessed January 20, 2023
  19. Congress.gov, "H.R.3755 - Women's Health Protection Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022
  20. Congress.gov, "H.R.2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
  21. Congress.gov, "H.R.8404 - Respect for Marriage Act," accessed January 20, 2023
  22. Congress.gov, "H.R.6833 - Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
  23. Congress.gov, "S.937 - COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act," accessed April 15, 2022
  24. Congress.gov, "H.R.3076 - Postal Service Reform Act of 2022," accessed January 23, 2023
  25. Congress.gov, "S.2938 - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act," accessed January 20, 2023
  26. Congress.gov, "H.R.5305 - Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act," accessed January 23, 2023
  27. Congress.gov, "H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 15, 2022
  28. Congress.gov, "H.R.350 - Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022," accessed January 23, 2023
  29. Congress.gov, "S.Con.Res.14 - A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031.," accessed April 15, 2022
  30. Congress.gov, "H.R.5746 - Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act," accessed January 20, 2023
  31. Congress.gov, "H.R.2617 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
  32. Congress.gov, "H.R.748 - CARES Act," accessed March 22, 2024
  33. Congress.gov, "S.1790 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  34. Congress.gov, "H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  35. Congress.gov, "H.R.1865 - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  36. Congress.gov, "H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  37. Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.31 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  38. Congress.gov, "S.47 - John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  39. Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024
  40. Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024
  41. Congress.gov, "S.1 - Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  42. Congress.gov, "H.R.8337 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  43. Congress.gov, "H.R.1158 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  44. Congress.gov, "H.R.3055 - Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  45. Congress.gov, "H.R.1327 - Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  46. Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 28, 2024
  47. Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 28, 2024
  48. Congress.gov, “H.R.5430 - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 28, 2024
  49. Congress.gov, "S.151 - Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act" accessed April 28, 2024
  50. Congress.gov, "H.R.3401 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019,' accessed April 28, 2024
  51. Congress.gov, "H.R.2157 - Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019," accessed April 28, 2024
  52. Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.46 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019.," accessed April 28, 2024
  53. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment with an Amendment)," December 18, 2018
  54. Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2)," December 11, 2018
  55. Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," October 6, 2018
  56. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," October 5, 2018
  57. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2, As Amended)," June 28, 2018
  58. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1959)," February 15, 2018
  59. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1958 As Modified)," February 15, 2018
  60. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1948)," February 15, 2018
  61. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1955)," February 15, 2018
  62. Senate.gov, "On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. 2311)," January 29, 2018
  63. Senate.gov, "On the Amendment (McConnell Amdt. No. 667)," July 28, 2017
  64. Senate.gov, "On the Amendment (Paul Amdt. No. 271 )," July 26, 2017
  65. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Amdt. No. 270)," July 25, 2017
  66. Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Proceed to H.R. 1628)," July 25, 2017
  67. U.S. Senate, "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 7, 2017
  68. U.S. Senate, "On the Cloture Motion (Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 6, 2017
  69. U.S. Senate, "On the Decision of the Chair (Shall the Decision of the Chair Stand as the Judgment of the Senate?)," April 6, 2017
  70. U.S. Senate, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 6, 2017
  71. Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6157)," September 18, 2018
  72. Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895)," September 12, 2018
  73. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H. R. 6157 As Amended)," August 23, 2018
  74. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 5895 As Amended)," June 25, 2018
  75. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1625)," March 23, 2018
  76. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1892 with an Amendment (SA 1930))," February 9, 2018
  77. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 695)," February 8, 2018
  78. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment with Further Amendment)," January 22, 2018
  79. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195)," January 22, 2018
  80. Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195)," January 19, 2018
  81. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1370)," December 21, 2017
  82. Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Recede from the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1 and Concur with Further Amendment ," December 20, 2017
  83. Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 123)," December 7, 2017
  84. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 1 As Amended )," December 2, 2017
  85. Senate.gov, "On the Concurrent Resolution (H. Con. Res. 71 As Amended)," October 19, 2017
  86. Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. to the Senate Amdt. with an Amdt. No. 808 to H.R. 601)," September 7, 2017
  87. U.S. Senate, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 244)," May 4, 2017
  88. Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 54, As Amended), December 13, 2018
  89. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2810 As Amended)," September 18, 2017
  90. The Hill, "Senate sends $692B defense policy bill to Trump's desk," November 15, 2017
  91. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3364)," July 27, 2017
  92. Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (S. 722 As Amended)," June 15, 2017
  93. 93.0 93.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  94. Tina Smith's 2020 campaign website, "Tina's Vision," accessed September 11, 2020
  95. Tina Smith for Senate, "Vision,' accessed September 26, 2018

Political offices
Preceded by
Al Franken (D)
U.S. Senate Minnesota
2018-Present
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
2015-2018
Succeeded by
-


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Tom Emmer (R)
District 7
District 8
Democratic Party (6)
Republican Party (4)