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Stauber, Schultz easily win 8th Congressional District primaries

Voters this fall will see a rematch between the incumbent Republican and his DFL challenger.

Portraits of a male and a female running for political office.
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, left, and DFL candidate Jen Schultz

DULUTH — Incumbent U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and challenger Jen Schultz easily handled the primary competition Tuesday.

Stauber, a three-term Republican from Hermantown, will again face the DFL-nominated Schultz, a former state representative from Duluth, in November’s general election for Northeastern Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.

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Will nearly all results in as of 11:40 p.m., Stauber had 90.48% of the vote over GOP challenger Harry Welty, a former Duluth Board member, who had 9.52%.

Schultz, meanwhile, led the DFL race with 90.96% over John Munter, of Warba, who had 9.04%.

"I am deeply honored by the trust the voters have placed in me," Schultz said in a statement. "Our campaign has always been about fighting for the people of Northern Minnesota — ensuring good jobs, accessible healthcare, a strong economy and retirement security. Tonight’s victory is a testament to the power of our community and the desire for real change in Washington D.C.”

Stauber's campaign said he was out of state on official business and did not immediately comment on the results.

Both were rematches of the 2022 primary. Stauber cruised to victory in that contest with 91% of the vote, while Schultz easily won her race with 86% of the tally.

Stauber, 58, served more than 22 years as a Duluth police officer, retiring as a lieutenant in 2017. A Duluth Denfeld High graduate, he played collegiate and professional hockey and, with his family, started the business now known as Duluth Hockey Co.

Stauber got his start in politics at the Hermantown City Council and was later elected to the St. Louis County Board.

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In Congress, he has largely and has been a frequent critic of President Joe Biden’s economic policies and response to the southern border. He has remained closely allied with despite Trump’s many legal entanglements and conviction on 34 felony counts.

But Stauber has faced fierce criticism from opponents — recently for as well his after he opposed the Biden-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Schultz, 53, is co-director of the Health Care Management Program and a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

A 20-year resident of Duluth, Schultz from 2015-23. As chair of the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, she was a prominent voice on many issues related to health care.

Schultz’s campaign has focused on strengthening the middle class through economic policy, retirement security and access to health care, housing, child care and reproductive freedom.

Stauber in 2022 defeated Schultz by a 57.2%-42.8% margin, but the DFL candidate has expressed hope that an earlier start to this year’s campaign will narrow the gap.

While not competing head-to-head in Tuesday's primary, Stauber was the outright vote leader, with 36,689 to Schultz's 31,888.

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Stauber has raised $1.66 million and had $1.05 million on hand through late July, according to Federal Election Commission filings, while Schultz reported receipts of $758,238 with $289,582 to spend.

The Cook Political Report ranks the seat as “solid Republican.”

This story was updated at 11:46 p.m. Aug. 13 with additional vote totals. It was originally posted at 9:58 p.m. Aug. 13.

Tom Olsen covers crime and courts and the 8th Congressional District for the Duluth News Tribune since 2013. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth and a lifelong resident of the city. Readers can contact Olsen at 218-723-5333 or tolsen@duluthnews.com.
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