Craig and Peterson Both Have Republican Challengers

Minnesota’s congressional races are filling up after both Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) and Angie Craig (D-MN-02) received new Republican challengers.

Former state senator and lieutenant governor Michelle Fischbach announced this week that she will challenge Peterson, who has represented Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District since 1991. Peterson has served 15 terms in Congress.

“It is the most pro-Trump district in the country held by a Democrat,” said Sam Winter, a spokesperson for Fischbach’s campaign, The Star Tribune reported.

Fischbach took over the role of lieutenant governor after Sen. Tina Smith stepped down to fill former Sen. Al Franken’s vacancy in the U.S. Senate. Her husband, Scott, serves as the executive director of the pro-life group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

“One of his first votes this Congress was to ban the wall, and he votes against President Trump 85 percent of the time,” Fischbach said in announcing her campaign. “Unlike Peterson, I will work with President Trump to secure our borders, build the wall, fight the Democrats’ socialist agenda and keep America great.”

Fischbach was reportedly making the rounds among reporters Tuesday at the Minnesota Legislature, where she was saying that Peterson was the “most vulnerable on immigration” in a pro-Trump district.

Former Lt. Gov/ Sen Pres Republican Michelle Fischbach making the rounds in the Capitol Press Corps announcing her run for MN CD #7 to challenge Democratic US Rep Collin Peterson who she says is “most vulnerable on immigration” in a district Pres Trump won big. #tptAlmanac @tpt pic.twitter.com/9c9NJituPS

— Mary Lahammer (@mlahammer) September 3, 2019

Republican Dave Hughes, who narrowly lost to Peterson in 2018, has also announced that he will run for the seat, as The Minnesota Sun reported.

In Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, Rick Olson, a former state legislator from Michigan, has announced his candidacy.

“It’s time CD2’s voice and vote is again one of limited government and free markets,” Olson wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

It’s time CD2’s voice & vote is again one of limited government & free markets. I’m running to represent you & all of CD2 in Congress. Learn more at https://t.co/gXrtciceQh and I'll see you on the trial!#MN02 #BeNotAfraid pic.twitter.com/eLSTnOZRKO

— Rick Olson for Congress (@RickOlsonMN) September 3, 2019

Olson said the American dream “is now being put at risk in favor of rising calls for socialism.”

Former U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis, Craig’s two-time challenger, announced recently that he will run for the U.S. Senate against Smith in lieu of running for the Second Congressional District for a third time.

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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].