View source for Peggy Flanagan

{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Peggy Flanagan
|native_name  = {{small|Geji Waudamukwe{{efn|name=speaks}}}}
|image        = PFlanagan close up.jpg
|caption      = Flanagan in May 2023
|office       = 50th [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]]
|governor     = [[Tim Walz]]
|term_start   = January 7, 2019
|term_end     = 
|predecessor  = [[Michelle Fischbach]]
|successor    = 
|state_house1 = Minnesota
|district1    = 46A
|term_start1  = November 9, 2015
|term_end1    = January 7, 2019
|predecessor1 = Ryan Winkler
|successor1   = [[Ryan Winkler]] 
|birth_date   = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1979|9|22}}}}
|birth_place  = [[Minnesota]], U.S.
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse       = {{marriage|Tim Hellendrung||2017|end=div}}<br>{{marriage|Tom Weber|2019}}
|children     = 1
|education    = [[University of Minnesota]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
}}
'''Peggy Flanagan''' ([[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]]: '''Geji Waudamukwe''';{{efn|name=speaks|{{small|[[Literal translation|Lit]].}} ''speaks with a clear and loud voice woman''}}<ref>{{cite AV media |date=19 August 2024| title =WATCH: Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention |type = [[YouTube]] video |url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b67b6KreswE | time = 1:02 | publisher = [[PBS News Hour]] | quote = My name in the Ojibwe language is Geji Waudamukwe.}}</ref> born September 22, 1979) is an American politician. She is the 50th [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]] since 2019. She was elected lieutenant governor on November 6, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/peggy-flanagan-lieutenant-governor-to-be-takes-lead-role-in-tim-walz-transition/500708671/|title=Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor to be, takes lead role in Tim Walz transition|last=Van Berkel|first=Jessie|date=November 16, 2018|work=[[Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis|quote=Flanagan's first priority is creating a board that will influence hiring and budget development.}}</ref> She is the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Minnesota, and the highest-ranking Native American woman in elected office in the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Rory |date=2018-12-03 |title=The Nation's Highest-Ranking Native Woman Elected to Executive Office Has a Message for Indigenous Youth |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lieutenant-governor-of-minnesota-peggy-flanagan |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>

She is a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL). Flanagan represented District 46A in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] from 2015 to 2019. Before being elected to political office, she worked at a political training camp and was an activist.<ref name="strib"/> She is politically a [[progressivism|progressive]].<ref name="strib"/>

==Early life==
Flanagan was born in [[Minnesota]] to activist Marvin Manypenny.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Jon |title=Marvin Manypenny, Minnesota American Indian activist, dies |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/01/28/marvin-manypenny-minnesota-american-indian-activist-dies |access-date=August 6, 2024 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> Flanagan was raised by a single mother in [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota]]. She is of [[Irish Americans|Irish]] and [[Ojibwe]] descent.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyd |first1=Cynthia |title=Peggy Flanagan, new head of Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, knows challenges of childhood poverty |url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2013/09/peggy-flanagan-new-head-children-s-defense-fund-minnesota-knows-challen/ |website=MinnPost |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> She is a citizen of the [[White Earth Nation]].<ref name="strib">{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/progressive-activist-peggy-flanagan-running-unopposed-for-minnesota-house/316993831/ | title=Progressive activist Peggy Flanagan running unopposed for Minnesota House | website=[[Star Tribune]] | date=July 18, 2015 | access-date=September 20, 2015 | author=Lopez, Ricardo}}</ref>

Flanagan received a bachelor's degree in [[child psychology]] and American Indian studies from the [[University of Minnesota]] in 2002.<ref name=leg-profile>{{cite web|title=Representative Peggy Flanagan (DFL) District: 46A|url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15451|website=Minnesota House of Representatives|access-date=November 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citysouthmagazine.com/meet-st-louis-park-rep-peggy-flanagan|title=Meet St. Louis Park Rep. Peggy Flanagan &#124; City South|website=Community Life Magazine|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223012620/https://citysouthmagazine.com/meet-st-louis-park-rep-peggy-flanagan|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early political career==
While in college, Flanagan worked on U.S. Senator [[Paul Wellstone]]'s campaign, eventually becoming an organizer for the urban Native American community.<ref name="unopposed" /> After college, she worked for the Minnesota Council of Churches and the Minneapolis public school system.<ref name="unopposed">{{cite news|last1=Bierschbach|first1=Briana|title=The unopposed: Meet Minnesota's newest House member|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2015/11/unopposed-meet-minnesotas-newest-house-member|access-date=November 11, 2015|agency=MinnPost|date=November 4, 2015|ref=unopposed}}</ref>

In her first run for elective office, Flanagan won a seat on the board of [[Minneapolis Public Schools]] in 2004.<ref name="swjournal">{{cite web | url=http://stage.southwestjournal.com/news/2004/11/school-board-lee-flanagan-henry-blythe/ | title=School Board: Lee, Flanagan, Henry-Blythe | date=November 11, 2004 | access-date=November 11, 2018 | archive-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112021302/http://stage.southwestjournal.com/news/2004/11/school-board-lee-flanagan-henry-blythe/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, she ran against incumbent Minnesota Representative [[Joe Mullery]] in the Democratic primary, but dropped out of the race because of her mother's health problems.<ref name=unopposed/> After working a handful of other jobs, Flanagan worked as a trainer at Wellstone Action, helping people who wanted to run for office in Minnesota.<ref name=unopposed/> She was then appointed to briefly serve on the school board again from 2010 until 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-04 |title=Peggy Flanagan's focus for MPS students: equity |url=https://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2010/10/peggy-flanagans-focus-mps-students-equity/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Flanagan was elected to the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] without any competition in a special election on November 3, 2015, and sworn in on November 9.<ref name="sworn-in">{{cite news|last1=Montgomery|first1=David H.|title=Flanagan sworn in as newest Minnesota lawmaker|url=http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2015/11/09/flanagan-sworn-in-as-newest-minnesota-lawmaker/|access-date=November 11, 2015|agency=Saint Paul Pioneer Press|date=November 9, 2015|archive-date=November 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113010353/http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2015/11/09/flanagan-sworn-in-as-newest-minnesota-lawmaker/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Lieutenant governor of Minnesota ==
In 2017, Flanagan became a candidate for [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota|lieutenant governor]], joining U.S. Representative [[Tim Walz]], who won the DFL primary in the [[2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election]].<ref name="Bakst">{{cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2017/10/walz-picks-state-legislator-as-running-mate/|title=Capitol View: Walz picks state legislator as running mate|last=Bakst|first=Brian|date=October 5, 2017|work=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]}}</ref> In the general election, Walz and Flanagan defeated the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominees, [[Jeff Johnson (Minnesota politician)|Jeff Johnson]] and Donna Bergstrom. Walz and Flanagan were reelected in [[2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2022]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Rory |title=Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan Becomes the Highest-Ranking Native Woman Elected to Executive Office in the United States |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lieutenant-governor-of-minnesota-peggy-flanagan |website=[[Teen Vogue]] |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/08/26/native-women-and-access-to-power|title=Native women and access to power|date=August 26, 2020 }}</ref>

Flanagan supports transgender rights and providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. She supported Walz's executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care for adults and youth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Make protection for gender care permanent |website=[[Star Tribune]] |url=https://www.startribune.com/make-protection-for-gender-care-permanent/600257601/ |access-date=9 March 2023 |ref=34}}</ref>

Flanagan was one of four chairs of the [[2024 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=2024-08-19 |title=Minnesota’s lieutenant governor named one of four Democratic National Convention chairs in Chicago |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-lieutenant-governor-named-one-of-four-democratic-national-convention-chairs-in-chicago/601120313 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Flanagan has a daughter with her first husband, Tim Hellendrung.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flanagan, Peggy - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15451 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref> The marriage ended in 2017. She lives in [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/mpr-s-tom-weber-reassigned-after-admitting-relationship-with-peggy-flanagan/469033203/|title=MPR's Tom Weber reassigned because of romantic relationship with Rep. Peggy Flanagan|work=Star Tribune|access-date=August 15, 2018 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115174006/http://www.startribune.com/mpr-s-tom-weber-reassigned-after-admitting-relationship-with-peggy-flanagan/469033203/}}</ref>

In January 2018, Flanagan announced that she was in a relationship with radio host Tom Weber.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2018/01/a-note-from-mpr-news/|title=A note from MPR News|work=Capitol View|access-date=January 22, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Flanagan married Weber in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-marries-former-public-radio-reporter-tom-weber/560419572/|title=Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan marries former MPR reporter Tom Weber|website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other websites==
{{commons category}}
*[https://mn.gov/governor/about/peggyflanagan/ Government website]
* [https://walzflanagan.org/ Campaign website]
*{{C-SPAN|103663}}
{{CongLinks|votesmart=160322}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flanagan, Peggy}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:State legislators of the United States]]
[[Category:Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians]]
[[Category:Native American people]]
[[Category:American political activists]]
[[Category:American progressives]]

{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}