Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, is an American politician currently serving as the 50th lieutenant governor of Minnesota. She is the second Native American woman to be elected to statewide executive office in U.S. history.
Born September 22, 1979, Flanagan grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. While in college, Flanagan worked for the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, eventually becoming an organizer for the urban Native American community. She later was a school board seat member, a trainer for Wellstone Action, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, and represented District 46A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. Tim Walz chose her as running mate in 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election.
Flanagan has been honored numerous times for her public service work, including the National Congress of American Indians awarding her with the Native American Leadership Award for her work raising awareness of Native issues and improving lives of Indigenous people.
January 15, 2010 - MPR’s Tom Robertson reports on DFL candidates for Minnesota governor participating in Bemidji forum on Native American issues. Report includes comments from Peggy Flanagan, director of Wellstone Action’s Native American Leadership program.
September 18, 2014 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Peggy Flanagan, executive director of Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, about recent U.S. census numbers that stated 14 percent of the state's children are living in poverty. Flanagan discusses the definition of poverty, the racial disparity in the numbers between groups, and potential solutions to child poverty.
October 27, 2015 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on the disparity of people of color in state legislature. When Peggy Flanagan, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota wins election to the Minnesota House, she'll join an exclusive club. A member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Flanagan will become one of only a handful of legislators of color at the Capitol.
April 21, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Weber talks with Minority Leader in the House Representative Erin Murphy, a representative of St. Paul; and Peggy Flanagan, representative of St. Louis Park. The two legislators discuss how members of the DFL party are critiquing how well candidates of color have, or haven't, found success in gaining their party's endorsement at local conventions.
April 26, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Weber highlights state legislators paying tribute to Prince after his death on April 21st, 2016. Segment includes audio of state representatives Peggy Flanagan and Mike Freiberg performing “Purple Rain” on the floor of the Minnesota House.
January 7, 2019 - MPR Special Coverage presents live broadcast of Governor Tim Walz inauguration, along with other constitutional officers, in an event held at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul.
May 8, 2019 - MPR’s Tiffany Hanssen interviews Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan about missing Native American women and girls. Flanagan states it reflects one of the many ways devaluation of native people takes place.
October 14, 2019 - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan issued a proclamation declaring it Indigenous Peoples' Day in Minnesota. Several cities, including St. Paul and Minneapolis, celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation and the first Indigenous statewide elected official, spoke to people celebrating at Indian Mounds Park.
January 2, 2020 - Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan have been friends for nearly 15 years after meeting at a training session. Back then, Flanagan was an elected officeholder and Walz wasn't. Here's the story of how their unique partnership developed, in their own words.