Tina Smith

Tina Smith
Born	Christine Elizabeth Flint 4 3, 1958
Birthplace	Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, political consultant, businesswoman
Known for	Junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2018–present); 48th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
Education	Stanford University (BA) Dartmouth College (MBA)
Children	2
Website	[smith.senate.gov Official site]

Christine Elizabeth Smith (née Flint; born March 4, 1958) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), an affiliate of the Democratic Party, who has served as the junior United States senator from Minnesota since January 2018. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Smith moved to Minnesota in the 1980s and built a career that spanned the private sector, nonprofit leadership, political consulting, and public office before arriving in the U.S. Senate. She previously served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 2015 to 2018 under Governor Mark Dayton, and before entering elected office she worked behind the scenes as a chief of staff, campaign manager, and strategist for DFL candidates across the state. Governor Dayton appointed Smith to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Al Franken in January 2018; she subsequently won a special election later that year to serve the remainder of Franken's term and was elected to a full six-year term in 2020. On February 13, 2025, Smith announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026.

Early Life

Christine Elizabeth Flint was born on March 4, 1958, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Details about her parents and childhood in New Mexico are limited in publicly available records, but she would later relocate to Minnesota, a state with which her political identity became closely associated.

After completing her undergraduate and graduate education (see Education), Smith moved to Minnesota in the 1980s. She took a position at General Mills, the multinational food corporation headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, marking the beginning of her professional career in the private sector. Her time at General Mills provided experience in corporate management and marketing, skills that she would later apply in both the nonprofit sector and in political organizing.

Smith subsequently transitioned from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, serving as vice president of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In that role, she gained experience in public advocacy, organizational leadership, and navigating politically sensitive policy issues. Her work at Planned Parenthood deepened her engagement with public policy, particularly in the areas of reproductive rights and healthcare access, and helped lay the groundwork for her eventual career in politics.

Smith's shift toward direct political involvement came through her work as a political consultant and organizer for DFL candidates in Minnesota. She built a reputation as an effective behind-the-scenes strategist, managing campaigns and advising elected officials rather than seeking the spotlight herself.

Education

Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in Stanford, California. She later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Her graduate business education influenced her early career trajectory, leading her to the corporate sector at General Mills before she pivoted toward nonprofit work and politics.

Career

Early Political Career and Campaign Management

After her time at General Mills and Planned Parenthood, Smith became increasingly active in DFL politics as a consultant and campaign organizer. She managed campaigns for local Democratic candidates, developing a reputation as an adept strategist who preferred operating behind the scenes.

Smith's most prominent early campaign role came in 2002, when she managed Walter Mondale's emergency campaign for the United States Senate in Minnesota. The campaign was launched on short notice after incumbent Senator Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash just 11 days before the general election. Mondale, the former Vice President of the United States, agreed to step in as the DFL's replacement candidate. Despite the extraordinary circumstances, Smith organized the last-minute campaign effort, though Mondale ultimately lost to Republican Norm Coleman.

Chief of Staff Roles

Following Mondale's defeat, Smith took on a governing role as chief of staff to R. T. Rybak, the Mayor of Minneapolis, serving in that capacity during Rybak's tenure as mayor. As chief of staff, she was responsible for managing the mayor's office, coordinating policy priorities, and overseeing day-to-day operations of the city's executive branch. This experience provided her with substantial exposure to municipal governance and urban policy issues.

Smith later played a central role in Mark Dayton's successful 2010 campaign for Governor of Minnesota. After Dayton won the governorship, he named Smith as his chief of staff, a position she held during the early years of his administration. In this role, she served as Dayton's top advisor and managed the governor's office during a period that included significant policy debates and a state government shutdown in 2011.

Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

For his 2014 reelection campaign, Governor Dayton selected Smith as his running mate for lieutenant governor, replacing incumbent Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon. The selection was notable because Smith had never before held elected office; her career had been defined by behind-the-scenes roles in campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and government administration. One MinnPost profile described her as a "veteran behind-the-scenes player" who was "stepping forward" for the first time as a candidate.

Dayton and Smith won the 2014 election, and Smith was sworn in as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota on January 5, 2015. During her tenure as lieutenant governor, Smith assumed a high-profile role in the Dayton administration that went beyond the ceremonial functions typically associated with the office. A Star Tribune report noted that her "high-profile role" fueled speculation about her political future. A MinnPost analysis noted that "there has never been a lieutenant governor like Tina Smith," emphasizing the unusual breadth of her responsibilities and influence within the administration. She was also profiled by Roll Call as an "influential woman" in politics who had moved from an "inside player" role to a more prominent public position.

Despite the speculation, Smith announced in 2017 that she would not run for governor in 2018.

During her time as lieutenant governor, Smith also served on the board of directors of the Mayo Clinic. She resigned from the Mayo Clinic board in late December 2017 as she prepared to transition to the U.S. Senate.

Appointment to the U.S. Senate

In December 2017, U.S. Senator Al Franken announced his resignation from the Senate amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Governor Dayton faced the task of appointing a replacement to serve until a special election could be held. On December 13, 2017, Dayton announced that he would appoint Smith to fill Franken's seat. MinnPost profiled the appointment with the headline "Minnesota, meet your next U.S. senator: Tina Smith."

Smith resigned as lieutenant governor effective at midnight on January 2, 2018, and was succeeded in that office by Michelle Fischbach. The transition from one office to the other was covered extensively by Minnesota media, with the Star Tribune reporting on the logistical details as "Franken moves out, Smith moves in."

Smith was sworn in as a U.S. senator on January 3, 2018, alongside newly elected Alabama Senator Doug Jones, in a ceremony broadcast on C-SPAN. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer subsequently announced Smith's committee assignments for the remainder of the 115th Congress. Minnesota Democrats moved to clear a path for Smith in the 2018 special election to serve the remainder of Franken's term, signaling strong party support for her candidacy.

U.S. Senate Tenure

Smith won the 2018 special election to serve the remainder of Al Franken's original term, which was set to expire in January 2021. She was subsequently elected to a full six-year term in the 2020 general election. She has served alongside Minnesota's senior senator, Amy Klobuchar.

During her time in the Senate, Smith has focused on a range of policy areas. In February 2026, she was involved in efforts to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from mining. She sought Republican votes to halt a proposal that would overturn a mining ban near the Boundary Waters, an issue that drew attention from environmental advocates across Minnesota and nationally.

Smith has also engaged in oversight and accountability efforts. In February 2026, she and Senator Klobuchar wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to cooperate in the investigation of the shooting of Alex Pretti.

In late February 2026, following a Supreme Court decision striking down sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Smith released a statement on the ruling, engaging with trade and economic policy issues affecting Minnesota.

Smith announced on February 24, 2026, that she would boycott President Trump's State of the Union address, joining dozens of other Democratic lawmakers in the boycott. She announced plans to instead participate in a "People's State of the Union" event alongside Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis.

Retirement Announcement

On February 13, 2025, Smith announced that she would not seek reelection in the 2026 U.S. Senate election, bringing an end to a political career that spanned more than two decades of involvement in Minnesota DFL politics.

Personal Life

Smith is married to Archie Smith. The couple has two children. After moving to Minnesota in the 1980s, Smith made the state her permanent home. Prior to her appointment to the Senate, she resided in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

During her tenure as lieutenant governor, Smith served on the board of directors of the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prominent medical institutions in the United States. She resigned from the board in December 2017 to prepare for her transition to the U.S. Senate.

Recognition

Smith's career trajectory—from behind-the-scenes political operative to statewide elected official and U.S. senator—has been the subject of extensive media coverage in Minnesota and nationally. Roll Call included her among its profiles of "influential women" in politics, noting her transition from an "inside player" to a high-profile public role. MinnPost characterized her tenure as lieutenant governor as unprecedented in its scope and influence, writing that "there has never been a lieutenant governor like Tina Smith."

Her appointment to the U.S. Senate by Governor Dayton was itself a recognition of her long record of service within the DFL and her close working relationship with Dayton, whom she had served as both campaign manager and chief of staff. The Star Tribune noted her "high-profile role" during her time as lieutenant governor, observing that it set her apart from many of her predecessors in the office and positioned her for future political opportunities.