Democrat senator‑elect Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota told supporters on election night, “We will rip ICE apart.” The line appears in a clip shared on X by journalist Aaron Rupar on Nov. 4, 2026, and is cited in a Nov. 5 report by The Gateway Pundit’s Cassandra MacDonald.
Election‑night vow, with specifics
According to the Gateway Pundit report, Flanagan added, “And we have the opportunity to replace it with an immigration system that is grounded in public safety for everybody, dignity and due process.” The outlet also quotes her saying Minnesotans had rejected what she called President Donald Trump’s “masked goons shooting our neighbors and terrorizing our communities.”
The Gateway Pundit reports that Flanagan defeated former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya for the open U.S. Senate seat left by retiring Democrat Tina Smith. The outlet further states she would be the first Native American woman elected to the Senate.
Pledges cited by the outlet
MacDonald’s report says Flanagan also pledged to end the war in Iran, pass Medicare for All, and work against the Trump administration.
Her past statements on ICE
The Gateway Pundit notes Flanagan used nearly identical language after winning the Democratic primary in August against Rep. Angie Craig, and that she has called ICE “out of control” and “Donald Trump’s private police force.” The outlet says she rallied against Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and made the deaths of what it describes as “anti‑ICE agitators” Renee Good and Alex Pretti a major part of her campaign.
The report also cites an Aug. 4, 2026 post on X from Flanagan: “In the Senate, I’m not going to send one more penny to this lawless, out‑of‑control agency. Let’s rip ICE apart.”
Broader context noted by the outlet
The Gateway Pundit adds that Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday.
