Navy veteran Tom Weiler to seek Republican nomination for open U.S. Senate seat

A new challenger has entered the ring for the open Senate seat that U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., will leave behind.

Republican Tom Weiler, a Navy veteran and a previous candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, announced his candidacy over the weekend.

“Tom Weiler is ready to lead with integrity, dedication, and a commitment to the people of Minnesota,” his campaign posted on social media Sunday. “Tom’s vision for a brighter, stronger future for our state is built on real leadership and values that matter.”

Weiler ran as a Republican against Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in 2022 and lost by a 19-point margin.

RELATED: Navy veteran Tom Weiler challenging Rep. Dean Phillips for US House seat

So far, a handful of other candidates have launched campaigns for the 2026 Senate race.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig are vying for the DFL nomination. Another Democrat, former Minnesota Senate Leader Melisa López Franzen, has already suspended her campaign.

On the Republican side is Royce White — who failed to unseat Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2024 — Adam Schwarze, Alycia Gruenhagen, Raymond Peterson and Mike Ruoho.
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