Minnesota Independent

Sharon Sund campaigns to break GOP stranglehold in 3rd Congressional District

By Andy Birkey | 08.26.11 | 8:00 am

Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses the wealthy suburbs west of Minneapolis, should be competitive. Political strategists have often rated the district a tossup, but Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen has managed to keep the district in Republican hands following the 2008 retirement of moderate Rep. Jim Ramstad, even winning by double digits in 2010. As district resident Sharon Sund aims to change that, Paulsen is getting renewed attention from national Democrats, who are launching a new round of ads against him.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Photo: Kathy Easthagen for the Minnesota Independent

Joe Arwood to challenge Klobuchar in 2012

By Andy Birkey | 08.22.11 | 12:53 pm

St. Bonifacius city council member Joe Arwood announced on Monday that he will soon file paperwork to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar for the U.S. Senate.

Sharon Sund and family. Photo: SharonSund.com

Sharon Sund to challenge Erik Paulsen

By Andy Birkey | 08.04.11 | 7:30 am

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen has drawn his first challenger for the 2012 campaign cycle in Plymouth resident Sharon Sund. Sund is seeking the DFL endorsement in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

Lynne Torgerson to again challenge ‘radical Islamist’ Keith Ellison

By Andy Birkey | 06.24.11 | 11:00 am

Lynne Torgerson announced on Thursday that she intends to challenge Rep. Keith Ellison for Congress in 2012 and noted that she based her decision on Ellison’s Muslim faith. Torgerson became a lightning rod in the 2010 campaign cycle for her controversial statements about Islam. Calling Ellison a “radical Islamist” yesterday, she announced her intention to run for the seat on Tea Party Nation.

Dan Powers to challenge Kline in 2012

By Andy Birkey | 05.31.11 | 8:15 am

Dan Powers, a former small business owner from Burnsville, announced his campaign for Congress on Monday in an open letter to Rep. John Kline, who he will challenge in 2012. “You represent the worst in politicians,” Powers wrote. Powers briefly ran against Kline in the 2010 election, but lost the DFL primary to former legislator Shelley Madore.

Rep. Michele Bachmann. Photo: Republican Conference, Flickr

HuffPo says Bachmann plagiarized GOP talking points

By Andy Birkey | 09.27.10 | 8:26 am

The Huffington Post says Rep. Michele Bachmann is among many congressional Republicans who have taken talking points from the GOP and used them in public statements, often without any changes and without acknowledgment that they were actually statements by the GOP. HuffPo conducted an “extensive review” of both Democratic and Republican floor speeches, campaign websites and other public statements using plagiarism detection software.

Demmer targets Walz in first round of radio ads

By Andy Birkey | 09.15.10 | 9:01 am

GOP candidate Randy Demmer has released three radio ads in the First Congressional District targeting second-term Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. In the first two ads, Demmer attacks Walz for voting for health care reform and for supporting cap-and-trade. The final…

Pawlenty beefs up staff in Iowa

By Andy Birkey | 09.14.10 | 11:48 am

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the first 2012 presidential contender to bring full-time staff in Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported on Tuesday. Pawlenty has brought Ben Foster, who works for his political action committee, to Iowa…

Some pundits eye Paulsen/Meffert race as potential DFL pickup

By Andy Birkey | 09.14.10 | 8:30 am

While most eyes are focused on Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District and the spectacle that is already Rep. Michele Bachmann vs. Sen. Tarryl Clark, some political watchers see a potential battle in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District between freshmen Republican Rep. Erik…

Minnesota Family Council wants gay marriage at center stage in guv race

By Andy Birkey | 09.13.10 | 12:39 pm

The Minnesota Family Council released poll numbers on Monday that it says shows an advantage for GOP candidate Tom Emmer when the issue of gay marriage is put before voters. Commissioned by the National Organization for Marriage, the poll shows that DFL candidate Mark Dayton has a strong lead over Emmer — 42 percent to 33 percent — until voters learn of each candidates’ position on gay marriage.