歪歪漫画

DULUTH 鈥� Although the November 2026 election is almost a year and a half away, two Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidates have announced they are running for the 8th Congressional District seat.

Cyle Cramer, 32, of Chisago City, and Emanuel Anastos, 25, of Tower, have each filed statements of organization with the Federal Election Commission establishing their campaign committees.

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, a Republican from Hermantown who has held the seat since 2019, has also filed for reelection,

Cramer, who grew up in Faribault, Minnesota, and served in the Army National Guard, works as an attorney for the Nichols Kaster, PLLP in Minneapolis, where he 鈥渞epresents clients in employment matters including whistleblower retaliation and discrimination claims,鈥�

In a news release Sunday announcing his candidacy, Cramer said he believes representation is a public service, not an allegiance to one person or party, and vowed to engage with people across the district.

鈥淚 am seeking the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement because I agree that when an individual鈥檚 rights are threatened all of our rights are threatened and I believe in promoting opportunity,鈥� Cramer said.

Anastos grew up on New York鈥檚 Long Island and came to Minnesota to attend Carleton College in Northfield. Since 2022, he has lived on the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa鈥檚 Vermilion Reservation near Tower, where he works as an Indian child welfare case manager for the Bois Forte Band.

In Anastos said he believes in a $17 minimum wage for large corporations, free public college education, and granting tribal governments greater influence. He said he hopes to largely self-fund his campaign.

鈥淲e need to create public funding of elections so politicians are no longer forced to vote in a way that rigs things for the rich people who fund their campaign,鈥� Anastos said.

Stauber, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, he would not be running for governor or Minnesota鈥檚 open U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

A Republican has not won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006, but the 8th Congressional District, once a Democratic stronghold and later a battleground, has moved safely into the red category.

over DFL challenger Jen Schultz, of Duluth, with 58% of the vote 鈥� just a touch higher than his margin over the same opponent in 2022.

Stauber鈥檚 campaign did not immediately comment on Cramer or Anastos entering the race Monday.