Republican Sen. Mike Parry is so far the only challenger to Rep. Tim Walz, a DFLer who first won election in 2008 and was re-elected in 2010.
Former state Sen. Tarryl Clark, who lost a bid for Rep. Michele Bachmann’s seat last election cycle, outraised all other 8th Congressional District candidates, including Rep. Chip Cravaack, last quarter.
Bachmann hasn’t been able to convince any of her colleagues, even in the Tea Party caucus, to support her presidential bid.
Range natives Veda Ponikvar, former state Sen. George Perpich and former state Rep. Joe Begich have all backed Nolan.
With a week before the election, major daily newspapers and high-profile officials are making their picks for Nov. 2. Democratic state Sen. Tarryl Clark and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz both grabbed endorsements from the state’s largest newspaper on Sunday, while Independence Party candidate for governor Tom Horner gained the support of the Pioneer Press. Walz also got the nod from Republican former Gov. Arne Carlson over the weekend, while GOP candidate Chip Cravaack picked up the endorsement of the Duluth paper.
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura told the Pioneer Press Friday that he backs Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor. Horner has secured the endorsements of three of the five living governors, including former Republicans Arne Carlson and Al Quie. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is backing Republican Tom Emmer, while former DFL governor Wendell Anderson hasn’t yet announced his support for a candidate. Ventura was the first and only Independence Party candidate to win the governor’s election.
Former Gov. Al Quie, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday that he’s backing Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor. Quie is the second former Republican governor to back Horner; the first was former Gov. Arne Carlson. The only other living Republican governor in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced on Thursday that he’d be campaigning for Republican Tom Emmer in the waning weeks before the election.
Citing reporting by the Minnesota Independent, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service Monday against Hastings’ Berean Bible Baptist Church and its pastor, Brad Brandon, for violating the ban on tax-exempt churches endorsing candidates. Brandon endorsed a slate of Republican, Constitution and independent candidates during his Sunday sermon after challenging the “liberal media” to report on his activities. AU urged the IRS to “investigate this matter and fully enforce our laws.”
Pastor Brad Brandon of Berean Bible Baptist Church in Hastings followed through on his recent promise: On Sunday he endorsed a slew of conservative candidates from his pulpit, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, in apparent violation of laws governing tax-exempt organizations. Brandon’s church is also distributing an endorsement list that includes nine Republican and two Constitution Party candidates in races across the state. He noted that he arrived at his choices based on the candidates posititions on bringing God into the classroom, opposing abortion and homosexuality, and support for Israel.
Citing Rep. James Oberstar’s support for the federal health care reform law, the anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life pulled its support from the incumbent congressman and announced it’s backing Republican Chip Cravaack. MCCL says the health care reform bill funds abortions, but Oberstar points out that’s not the case.
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