PETE STAUBER

DFL candidates enter 8th Congressional District race

Jimmy Lovrien — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:28:51 GMT

DULUTH — 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, according to the FEC.

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 “represents clients in employment matters including whistleblower retaliation and discrimination claims,” according to the law firm’s website.

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.

“I am seeking the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement because I agree that when an individual’s rights are threatened all of our rights are threatened and I believe in promoting opportunity,” Cramer said.

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

In a June 4 announcement on Facebook, 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.

“We 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,” Anastos said.

Stauber, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, said earlier this year he would not be running for governor or Minnesota’s 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.

Stauber most recently cruised to victory over DFL challenger Jen Schultz, of Duluth, with 58% of the vote — just a touch higher than his margin over the same opponent in 2022.

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

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BWCAW mining language stricken from US budget bill

Jimmy Lovrien — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:30:03 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans have removed a provision in the federal budget bill that would have reversed a pause on mining on federal land within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and reinstated leases to a copper-nickel mining company wishing to mine in that area.

An amendment by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday strikes portions of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that would run afoul of Senate rules that Republicans are relying on to pass the upper chamber with a simple majority instead of 60 votes.

The amendment removes Section 80131 of the spending bill, which sought to end a Biden-era 20-year moratorium on mining on 225,000 acres of federal land within the watershed and return two mineral leases to Twin Metals, which is owned by Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta and is hoping to build a large underground copper-nickel mine and dry-stacked tailings storage facility near Ely and Birch Lake, within the Rainy River Watershed and 5 miles from the BWCAW.

The full chamber was expected to vote on the changes Wednesday, Politico reported.

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who introduced a bill earlier this year seeking to make the mineral withdrawal near the BWCAW permanent, celebrated the removal of the language.

“Today marks a victory in our fight to protect the Boundary Waters. Buried deep in President Trump and Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill was a provision that gave a foreign mining company full permission to build a copper-nickel sulfide mine right on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters. I vowed to do everything in my power to protect this precious place,” Smith said in a statement Tuesday evening. “Today, I am relieved to announce that we were successful in forcing Republicans to drop this language attacking the Boundary Waters from the bill.”

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Hermantown, an ardent supporter of mining and Twin Metals, did not immediately respond to the News Tribune’s request for comment.

Twin Metals declined to comment.

Mining Minnesota, a copper-nickel mining industry group, said the move further delays establishing a domestic mineral supply chain.

“Our nation’s energy future depends upon the steps we take today to create a resilient supply chain from the ground up,” Julie Lucas, executive director of Mining Minnesota, said in a statement. “While the decision to remove language that confirmed the importance of Minnesota’s mineral potential was due to a niche, procedural provision unique to the U.S. Senate, unfortunately, it delays those first steps needed to ensure Americans can build and power tomorrow with responsibly mined minerals. Leaders from both sides of the aisle recognize the need to increase our domestic production of minerals and we welcome conversations about Minnesota’s role in meeting those mineral security goals.”

Meanwhile, groups like Friends of the Boundary Waters and Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters celebrated the removal of the language.

“The Boundary Waters is a natural treasure, ecological wonder and vital economic driver. Thanks to the tireless efforts of public lands defenders in Congress, today brings good news for the millions who cherish this iconic place,” Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, said in a statement Tuesday evening. “America’s most visited wilderness has narrowly escaped inclusion in the Big Beautiful Bill, which would have almost guaranteed irreversible pollution from toxic copper mining in this fragile ecosystem.”

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Practicing Democracy to host People's Town Hall in Bemidji

Pioneer Staff Report — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:19:16 GMT

BEMIDJI — Practicing Democracy, a new, local political action committee, is set to host a non-partisan People's Town Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Registration is required and can be done on the organization's website. The location of the event will be shared with those who register.

Practicing Democracy invites the public to discuss federal policies and their impact on local communities. It cites a desire for town halls from Minnesotans as the driving force behind holding such events.

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, and other local elected officials have been invited.

"Local elected officials will be attending and providing updates on how federal policies are impacting our school district, city, county and state," a release said. "The event is designed to give residents an opportunity to share their personal stories about how federal policies and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are affecting their families, farms, businesses and communities."

Practicing Democracy is co-led by Jen Schultz and Adrienne Dinneen. A goal of the event is to foster community engagement, regardless of political affiliation, to direct federal policies while understanding the local impact.

"The mission of Practicing Democracy is to strengthen our democracy by engaging and empowering people in greater Minnesota," the release said. "Practicing Democracy is a local, grassroots effort to increase civic engagement and support coalitions working to meet challenges in our communities."

Practicing Democracy plans to host more town halls throughout Congressional District 8. Questions regarding the organization or different town halls can be directed to PracticingDemocracyMN@gmail.com.

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As events mount in response to Trump’s cuts, attendees ask: Where’s Stauber?

Jimmy Lovrien — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:02:54 GMT

DULUTH — At rallies and meetings across the Northland held in protest of President Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal government, signs held by attendees and the speakers addressing them often return to a familiar theme: Where’s U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber?

The Republican from Hermantown has shrugged at calls to hold an in-person town hall, opting to continue his practice of telephone town halls instead, and when, or if, he does respond directly to the actions, he’s been supportive of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to reshape and shrink the federal government.

Approximately 900 people attended a town hall Saturday organized by Practicing Democracy — a new group led by Jen Schultz, who ran as a Democrat and lost to Stauber in the last two elections, and Adrienne Dinneen — to address concerns people in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District have about Trump’s actions.

While Stauber was invited, he did not attend. An empty seat bearing Stauber’s name sat on stage at Duluth East High ��’s auditorium throughout the event.

“He doesn’t care about working people,” State Rep. Pete Johnson, DFL-Duluth, told the crowd gathered six days earlier at a rally in Duluth against U.S. Postal Service cuts. “Everything he has done has been in lockstep with the administration. He has not stood up for anybody. He should be here and be held accountable for the people being impacted, whether he likes what they have to say or not.”

Stauber’s office did not respond to the News Tribune’s request for comment but told Northern News Now last week that the congressman was attending another event in the district Saturday, the day of the town hall, and “he will also not appear at any event that is organized by left-wing extremists and primarily attended by paid agitators who are more interested in manufacturing outrage than having meaningful conversations about policy.”

There is no evidence that most — or even any — of the hundreds of event attendees were paid.

According to a Facebook post by Stauber’s campaign account, the Congressman was in Baxter on Saturday, speaking to Republicans.

Instead of in-person town halls, Stauber has relied on telephone town halls. He held his most recent on Monday, March 24. When a caller asked him when he would have an in-person town hall, Stauber said he’d continue to hold the telephone events. He defended the decision by saying that it is more accessible for people throughout the 8th Congressional District.

“We’ve been doing them — telephone town halls — for six and a half years, and they’re popular,” Stauber said. “It allows the people to stay in the comfort of their own home, and I’m going to continue to do telephone town halls.”

His office said the town hall attracted 17,000 listeners. During the call, Stauber answered a dozen or so questions.

For many, it’s not enough. They want to see him push back against the Trump administration and Musk’s DOGE, especially on cuts that would affect his district.

At a Sunday, March 23, rally in support of USPS employees and against proposed cuts and privatization of the mail service, Jim Barott, of Lakewood Township, stood in the crowd holding a sign that said “STAUBER is MIA.”

Barott said cuts to the USPS could threaten mail delivery to rural communities.

“That’s the rural areas (Stauber) represents, and he doesn’t care,” Barott said.

The next day, during his telephone town hall, Stauber fielded a question about the USPS but said, “Privatization is not going to happen with the Postal Service.”

However, the Associated Press reported that both Trump and Musk have entertained the idea of USPS privatization.

Stauber then sent a letter Thursday to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Kentucky, urging the congressman to hold hearings on the USPS’ “inability to effectively serve rural America” and said the USPS was “facing severe staffing shortages, especially in rural areas.”

He made no mention of the Trump administration or of former U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plan to reduce USPS’ headcount by 10,000 through an early retirement program or DeJoy signing an agreement with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to “assist us in identifying and achieving further efficiencies.”

The Congressman has not addressed some potential cuts in his district at all.

Stauber, whose wife, Jodi, used to work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Duluth lab, did not respond to the News Tribune’s request for comment in March on whether he supports the EPA reportedly planning to eliminate the Office of Research and Development, which includes the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth, or if he is concerned about the potential loss of EPA jobs in his district.

John Morrice, of Duluth, worked at the EPA lab in Duluth for 15 years as a research biologist studying Great Lakes ecosystems before he retired 12 years ago.

Morrice told the News Tribune that Stauber should place as much importance on the lab’s 136 federal employees as he does on mining jobs.

“Pete Stauber talks about mining jobs like they are these sacred things and that jobs are so important and really supersede any other concerns — it’s jobs and ‘our way of life,’ ” Morrice said, referencing a slogan Stauber often repeats.

He added later, “If our way of life doesn’t include protection of the Great Lakes, well then, who are we?”

In the first two months of Trump’s second term, regular protests — several per week — have been held throughout the Northland against Trump’s cuts. Some have been aimed directly at Stauber, with up to hundreds gathered outside his Hermantown office. Others have been aimed at specific cuts — USPS, EPA, funding for research, among others. They show no sign of slowing down.

Local chapters of Indivisible, a national group that said it aims to “resist the Trump agenda,” are planning protests for Saturday, April 5, in Duluth, Two Harbors and Cloquet. And Practicing Democracy, which said it is non-partisan, said in a news release Sunday, March 30, that it would continue to hold town hall events throughout the 8th Congressional District.

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Sen. Tina Smith’s Office addresses federal child care funding concerns in Bemidji

Madelyn Haasken — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:49:17 GMT

BEMIDJI — During a time of uncertainty surrounding federal funding for child care providers, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s Outreach Director for Childcare Carson Oullette visited Pine Pals in Bemidji on Thursday to discuss what is being done to address these concerns.

In January, the Trump administration issued an executive order that directed federal agencies to pause grants, loans and federal assistance programs before judges temporarily blocked the order.

Then in early February, Rep. Pete Stauber led Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Gov. Tim Walz demanding “answers and accountability,” after claiming that 62 investigations have been opened “to look into federally funded child care centers in Minnesota for fraud and other serious violations.”

These developments have many child care providers uncertain about their futures. During his visit to Pine Pals, Oullette stressed the importance of federal funding when it comes to these services, whether it helps the providers pay their employees or helps families afford the cost of care.

“We’ve passed the point where you can ask families to shoulder the burden that this care costs, and we’re at the point where you can’t afford to pay people what they deserve for how important this work is,” he said. “(Sen. Smith) understands that no matter what approach you take, the federal government needs to come in with funds to add funds to the equation.”

In the days following the block of the federal funding freeze, child care programs that heavily rely on federal grants like Head Start were still experiencing delays in accessing funds, according to the National Head Start Association.

“Ten days after the temporary federal payment freeze, dozens of Head Start programs are continuing to face challenges drawing down approved grant funds,” the NHSA website reads. “Though the cause of the problem is unclear, this has a significant impact on Head Start which relies on steady, predictable access to operating funds in order to keep its doors open and serve children, their families, and the communities in which it operates.”

In extreme cases, Oullette noted that issues accessing this funding can lead to centers shutting down, creating a gap in the need for child care providers.

“We heard from a Head Start program that, for a couple weeks … was locked out. They could not access the funds that they normally were able to access,” he said. “It just left them wondering at what point do they close their doors, and if the more formal conversation is that Head Start needs to be cut, it’s just a matter of where do those kids go?”

These issues are leading many child care providers to have concerns about the future of their federal funds and grants.

“Child care providers like Pine Pals are critical to families and local economies, especially in rural communities where options are already limited. We should be doing everything we can to support them. But instead, it’s clear from the last few weeks that nothing is off the table and Republicans are vacuuming up every dollar that they can from wherever they can find it in order to pay for giant tax cuts for big corporations,” Sen. Smith said in a statement. “Working families shouldn’t have to sacrifice to pay for tax cuts for the rich. I will be fighting with everything I’ve got to prevent that from happening.”

Negotiations around child care funding “doesn’t seem to be at the top of the agenda” at the federal level, Oullette said, noting that the top priority this year will be tax-focused.

However, he said there are opportunities to discuss child care-related issues within tax negotiations.

“There could be an opportunity for some kind of adjustment to the child and dependent care tax credit and something like the flex savings account,” he said. “Other areas of opportunity for support are much smaller, but it’s in the food program. We’d like to see the USDA make adjustments that are fair for everyone, recognizing that food costs have gone up.”

‘Families need options’

Lydia Pietruszewski, director of Pine Pals, noted her optimism for Sen. Smith’s approach to the child care system is one that emphasizes collaboration and choices for families.

“I’m really glad to hear that (Sen. Smith’s) priorities are the mixed-delivery system because that’s very much something that we are supportive of,” she said. “Even though we’re a center, we fully recognize, especially in rural Minnesota, that families need options and they deserve options.”

While future negotiations at the federal level regarding child care funding are uncertain, work is being done at the state level to increase access to the service.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently awarded 25 organizations with Child Care Economic Development Grants, expected to expand child care capacity by 1,400 slots statewide. Two Bemidji-area organizations — Greater Bemidji and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation — received funding as part of $6.1 million in grants.

“It would be really hard for the state to carry all of that burden,” Oullette said, referencing the work state officials have done. “Those very promising conversations really can’t happen without federal assistance.”

Oullette expressed his gratitude to Pietruszewski and the staff at Pine Pals for providing a needed service to the community and opening the conversation about the future of federal funding for child care providers.

“Senator Smith really wants to see greater support from the federal side, greater funding and a way to alleviate the pain that families feel,” he said. “Thank you so much for seeing the need and the way that talks about cutting funding or uncertainty at the federal level impacts every aspect of child care.”

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Tariffs could affect Great Lakes shipping

Peter Passi — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:00:41 GMT

DULUTH — Tariffs of 25% against sales of goods from Canada and Mexico that were set to take effect on Tuesday have been placed on hold for at least 30 days to allow for further negotiations. As the diplomatic saber-rattling temporarily subsides, area businesses and residents continue to prepare for the possibility that new barriers to North American trade may spring up in the weeks to come.

Northland interests have much riding on how those pending trade talks go.

Tony Barrett, emeritus professor of economics for the College of St. Scholastica, said that if illegal border crossings and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. are the true rationale for the sanctions, as the Trump administration maintains, the issue likely could be addressed shortly and with minimal economic disruption.

But if the nature of the trade dispute becomes muddier, he suggested the consequences could be far worse.

“If the dispute becomes protracted, nothing economically positive will come from it,” Barrett predicted.

Given the current configuration of auto-making operations, with parts and vehicles flowing throughout North America, he said economists project the proposed 25% tariffs could add about $3,000 to the cost of a new vehicle purchased in the U.S. In turn, Barrett noted that higher prices for new vehicles would likely bleed into the domestic used-car market, too.

“Things like this work their way out down the food chain,” Barrett said, explaining that the expense will be passed forward.

“It will end up costing consumers more,” he said. “The idea that the exporting countries will pay the tariffs simply is not true. It would be nice to believe that, but they won’t.”

Some have speculated the Trump administration aims to use the threat of tariffs to get an early jump on renegotiating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement — a revamped version of NAFTA, short for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that the U.S. proposes to levy tariffs under the guise of the International Emergency Powers Act, claiming a crisis at its borders due to illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

“If that’s the president’s goal, it has nothing to do with declaring a national emergency at the southern border,” she said.

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted, less than 1% of both fentanyl seizures and illegal border crossings have been documented at the northern border of the U.S. However, Canada pledged to invest $1.3 billion to beef up its border security to address U.S. concerns.

Manak warned against attempting to rationalize the actions of the Trump administration “because I think this was kind of quickly put together, and if you look at the executive orders, clearly was not well thought through.”

She said that a strong counter-response by Canada should come as no surprise if tariffs take effect, including actions that could drive up the cost of fuel in the U.S.

“There are considerations of export charges on oil and gas coming out of Canada, and I think they’re within their rights to do so. So, we’re likely to see the escalation of a trade war come through,” Manak said. “But most importantly, we should not forget that what the president has used is (the International Emergency Powers Act), and it doesn’t quite make sense how you connect what he says is the threat to our use of tariffs.”

U.S. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., defends Trump’s use of a tariff threat to prompt movement in negotiations.

“We have already seen President Trump effectively use tariffs as a tool to extract policy wins for the American people,” said Stauber, a Hermantown resident who represents the 8th Congressional District. "During his first term, he enacted the 232 steel tariffs, which prevented China from flooding our markets with cheap steel and protected American mining interests on the Iron Range and the entire domestic steel industry.

“These tariffs were so effective that they were kept in place by the Biden administration,” Stauber said. “And just today, it was announced that Trump’s tariffs brought Mexico and Canada to the negotiating table, and they ultimately agreed to work with President Trump to secure our borders and tackle the fentanyl crisis. There will now be a 30-day delay on U.S. tariffs, allowing more time to reach fair economic agreements. I applaud President Trump for putting our country first and delivering real results for the American people.”

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative issued a letter “to the growing chorus of American and Canadian leaders who oppose the prospect of a harmful trade war between our two countries.”

“The economic engine of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region supports over 50 million jobs that our residents count on,” the letter said. “The livelihoods of millions cannot be put at risk by putting these jobs in jeopardy.”

When asked if Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert had signed on to the letter, his office responded by saying that while it was aware of the initiative’s opposition to the proposed tariffs, “The (Initiative’s) statement was made on behalf of its membership without consulting the city of Duluth. We are monitoring and evaluating any potential economic impacts of tariffs.”

Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said her staff is also closing tracking developments.

“Duluth-Superior is a world port, and global trade is part of our lifeblood,” she said. “Anything that inhibits free trade is generally a negative for the port, with the exception of policies that protect against foreign steel-dumping.”

DeLuca noted close ties between port cities on both sides of the border.

“Regarding Canada and the U.S. specifically, Duluth-Superior would likely suffer from tariffs imposed by either country,” she said. “Cargo volumes between our port and Canada total in the millions of tons each year, spread across categories like iron ore, lumber, salt, grain and general cargo. Almost a third of the iron ore that sailed from Duluth-Superior during the 2024 navigation season went to Canada.

“Our northern neighbor is a major trade partner,” DeLuca said. “and the net economic result of a trade war between Canada and the U.S. would likely be more negative than positive for our port.”

Nevertheless, Eric Peace, vice president of the Lake Carriers Association, which represents U.S.-flagged operators of the Great Lakes fleet, suggested the short-term effects of the proposed tariffs would likely be minimal on his organization’s members. In fact, he predicted it could lead to more business for its members, as carriers are called upon to move more domestic salt by way of water — shipments that nearly all involve Canadian salt shipped by Canadian vessels.

However, he acknowledged that a protracted trade dispute could prove more disruptive to the domestic automobile industry, potentially weakening demand for steel and slowing shipments of taconite.

Forest products could also take a hit, with the U.S. importing about one-third of its softwood lumber from Canada and relying heavily on its paper-making capacity, as well.

Forum Communications Co., the Fargo, North Dakota-based owner of the News Tribune, buys all of its newsprint from Canadian paper makers and would feel the direct impact of the proposed tariffs.

Aaron Becher, Forum Communications’ vice president of newspapers, said that if the threatened tariffs take effect, “It will present us with greater cost challenges that we will need to manage carefully.”

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US House of Representatives passes Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act

Pioneer Staff Report — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:28:35 GMT

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District Rep. Pete Stauber’s Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act.

The bill, passed by the House on Tuesday, Jan. 21, would exchange 36.7 acres owned by the Bowen Lodge resort in Deer River for 17.5 acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Chippewa National Forest, a release said.

This is Stauber’s first bill to pass the House in the 119th Congress.

"This land exchange is a win-win, which is why it passed out of the House with unanimous support," Stauber said in the release. "It will grant the Bowen Lodge permanent access to the waterfront, ensuring that guests and residents of Itasca County can partake in recreational opportunities for generations to come, all while helping the Chippewa National Forest achieve its management goals."

Lake Winnibigoshish, also known as Lake Winnie, is located in the Chippewa National Forest and is home to Bowen Lodge.

"Bowen Lodge is a fishing lodge currently run by Bill and Gail Heig, who have served as incredible stewards of Lake Winnie, while also providing fishing and recreation opportunities to the local community," the release said.

Currently, Bowen Lodge has a 20-year agreement with the USFS to lease acreage along the shoreline of Lake Winnie, where the Heigs operate their marina. Under their stewardship, Lake Winnie has remained accessible to the citizens of Itasca County.

Stauber’s bill would facilitate a land exchange between Bowen Lodge and the USFS, providing Bowen Lodge permanent access to the lakeshore and marina, along with greater certainty for the greater Itasca County community, the release said.

In exchange for this land, Bowen Lodge would convey nearby acreage to the USFS, which would then be added to the Chippewa National Forest.

"I urge the Senate to quickly pass this legislation and send it to the President’s desk," Stauber said.

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Stauber, Schultz clash in only debate in 8th District Congressional race

Dan Kraker / MPR News — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:12:16 GMT

DULUTH — In the only debate scheduled in the Congressional race in Minnesota’s sprawling 8th District, GOP U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber painted DFL challenger Jen Schultz as a liberal tied to President Joe Biden, while Schultz criticized the incumbent for failing to accomplish more for the district in his three terms in office.

The 40-minute debate was hosted by WDIO in Duluth. It was rescheduled for Tuesday after Stauber canceled last week because of a scheduling conflict.

The race is a rematch from two years ago, when Stauber earned 57% of the vote to defeat Schultz, a former state lawmaker and economist at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

For decades, the 8th District voted reliably Democratic. But in recent years, Republicans have scored convincing victories as rural areas have shifted rightward and the district absorbed more conservative-leaning areas to the south and west.

During the debate, Stauber attempted to tie Schultz to what he called the “failed, far-left” politics of the Biden administration and leaned into his support for former President Donald Trump, who won the 8th District by 15 points in the last two presidential elections.

“There’s only one presidential candidate that will open up the mines on the Iron Range, and that is Donald Trump,” Stauber said, referencing Trump’s backing of a controversial proposed copper-nickel mine near Ely.

Stauber blamed the Biden administration for running up inflation, failing to address illegal immigration, and not doing more to prevent conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“If you go back and look four years ago under Trump, we had peace and security around the world, because peace through strength, the Reagan Doctrine, works,” Stauber said.

Schultz in turn criticized Stauber for failing to pass a bipartisan border security bill and for not supporting funding for Ukraine. “He’s giving Putin the keys,” she said.

At one point, Stauber told Schultz, “You have no idea what you’re talking about when it comes to the Middle East.”

In response, she said, “I’m not going to argue with you about what you think I know and I don’t know, but if you’re in Congress, you should be solving this problem.”

Schultz repeatedly criticized Stauber for spending too much time blaming the Biden administration and not enough time delivering for people in the 8th District.

She cited his vote against a bipartisan infrastructure bill that provided $1 billion in funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin.

“He has passed only two of his bills into law. He named a post office and he created a task force, but he has passed no legislation to address all the issues he talks about,” Schultz said.

Mining differences

The sharpest exchange between the two came after a question over mining. The district is home to six operating taconite mines on the Iron Range, and three proposed mines for copper, nickel and precious metals.

Stauber touted his introduction of legislation that would return mineral leases to Twin Metals, which is seeking to open an underground copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. And he criticized the Biden administration for placing a 20-year mining moratorium on federal land near the wilderness.

Schultz blamed Stauber for failing to build consensus around the issue, to advance mining projects while also addressing concerns of potential water pollution.

“I have to tell you that my opponent absolutely is anti-mining,” Stauber said.

Schultz said that’s not true, calling herself pro-mining. “But I want to do more than just mine our rock,” she said. “I want to make steel on the Iron Range. I want to think big. I want to have a vision for the future.”

Both candidates said they would accept the outcome of the election, regardless of the result.

This story was originally published on MPRNews.org
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Jen Schultz once again challenging Rep. Pete Stauber in 8th Congressional District race

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 18:00:00 GMT

DULUTH — Incumbent U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and challenger Jen Schultz will go head to head in the general election to represent Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Stauber, a three-term Republican from Hermantown, will again face the DFL-nominated Schultz — a former state representative from Duluth — after the pair ran against each other in 2022 with Stauber defeating Schultz by a 57.2%-42.8% margin.

Each candidate answered the following questions in their own words ahead of the primary election in August.

Pete Stauber

How do you view the state of the economy in northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

Joe Biden’s economy is crippling working families. Our costs of living are skyrocketing. Energy prices are through the roof. The American dream of homeownership for young families is virtually unattainable. We need to change course. We must put America first by building a pro-growth economy and enact an all-American energy policy that doesn’t rely on our adversaries. We must become critical mineral dominant by mining those minerals right here at home, generating an economic boom throughout the region, and doing it in an environmentally sound way, with union labor. Mining is part of our past, present and future!

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

As a 23-year police officer, I am proud to be a foremost leader in Congress when it comes to keeping our communities safe. We are clearly at a crossroads in our nation between those defending law and order and standing and supporting our law enforcement, and those who are more interested in sending criminals back to the streets making our communities less safe. Unlike some of my congressional colleagues who continue calling to defund our law enforcement, I will do all I can to provide our police with the resources needed to keep our communities safe.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

As the father of six beautiful children, including two who were adopted, I believe all life has value and should be protected. However, before we were blessed with our first child, my wife and I struggled to conceive. I support all families who are trying to have a child, whether that’s through natural birth, adoption, foster care or fertility treatment like IVF. I support congressional action on policies that protect the sanctity of life and opportunities for families to grow.

Jen Schultz

How do you view the state of the economy in northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

As an economist, I will bring meaningful investments to our region and will focus on fixing our economy, so it works for everyone. I’ll represent working people, not political parties. I’ll help small businesses, work to increase affordable housing and access to health care, and invest in our port, infrastructure and schools — all things businesses need. I’ll work with everyone regardless of party affiliation. I’ll vote for infrastructure bills, and champion policies to bring back and protect domestic manufacturing and responsible mining to create jobs. I’ll strengthen the middle class because it is the foundation of our economy.

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

Public safety is about protecting people and communities. I fully support law enforcement and first responders. I strongly oppose defunding the police. I have great respect for first responders and military personnel as my late father was a dedicated firefighter, paramedic and Vietnam veteran. We need to secure our borders humanely. Congress should have passed the bipartisan border bill. We need to address illicit drug use by improving border security and drug surveillance. I will address mental health and homelessness. We need to make sure people have access to basic needs and opportunities to thrive.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

Every person should have the right to make their own health decisions with their doctor, not politicians. I support reproductive rights including abortion, access to birth control and IVF treatment. We need to codify these long-held protections into law. Restrictive state laws are jeopardizing women’s lives. In addition to increasing access to healthcare, I will protect Social Security and Medicare. I have a track record of getting things done through being an independent thinker, asking good questions, solving problems and helping people. There is a better way forward where we improve lives by investing in people and in our communities.

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