If the Democratic ticket wins the presidential election in November, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would make history as Minnesota’s first Native American and its first female governor.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, on Tuesday announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. If he steps down as governor — whether to campaign or eventually become the country’s hypothetical vice president — Flanagan would be next in line to take his place.
Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, would also be the nation’s first Native American woman to serve as governor of the state.
Flanagan was once a politician who made history. She is the highest-ranking Native woman to serve in any statewide office. She is also the first Native woman to lead the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association.
Flanagan, 44, was first elected alongside Walz in 2018, serving in the role since 2019. Previously, she served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the Minneapolis Board of Education and as executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota. She has also trained thousands of organizers and elected officials, including Walz, in her work for Wellstone Action’s Camp Wellstone program.
Flanagan has campaigned for Harris since announcing she would seek the top spot on the Democratic ticket, MinnPost reported.
Late last month, she gave an interview to MinnPost and hinted that she was rooting for Walz to be named Harris’ running mate. She said that while there are several Democratic governors under consideration, “I might be a little biased about who would be the best choice.”
As for whether she has considered the prospect of becoming a history-making governor, she told MinnPost: “I think Governor Walz would be honored to be chosen to be vice president, and I have been honored all along to serve the people of Minnesota. That wouldn’t change.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
