Former Minnesota state Senator Matt Little won the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ. Little defeated state Senator Matt Klein and state Representative Kaela Berg in the three-way contest for the Democratic nomination.

The seat was left open after incumbent Rep. Craig, who has represented the district since 2019, chose not to seek another term and instead is running for the Senate. This vacancy presents an opportunity for Republicans to potentially flip the seat.

The district covers a politically mixed area in southern Minnesota, including several suburbs of the Twin Cities and rural communities. All three Democratic candidates had prior electoral success in the district: Little served as mayor of Lakeville before winning a Minnesota Senate seat in 2016; Klein has been a state Senator since 2017; and Berg has represented her district in the Minnesota House since 2021.

Campaign finance reports show Klein outraised Little, with Klein raising over $1 million and holding nearly $300,000 in cash on hand, compared to Little’s $700,000 raised and about $130,000 cash on hand.

The Cook Political Report rates the race as "likely Democrat," noting that the district was represented by Republicans in Congress for more than two decades before Craig.

Little is set to face GOP state Senator Eric Pratt in the November general election.

Sources