Democrat Dan Feehan, an Iraq War veteran, announced Tuesday that he will make another run for Minnesota’s First Congressional District and told the media that he supports the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) defeated Feehan in the 2018 midterms in one of the closest congressional races in the nation. Feehan lost to Hagedorn by less than half a percentage point and didn’t concede the race until 10 days after the election. President Trump won the district in 2016 by 15 points.
In an interview with Roll Call last week, Feehan admitted that he supports the impeachment inquiry, but said he doesn’t plan to discuss it on the campaign trail.
“It’s not something I’m focused on,” he said. “I’m worried it will become the single and sole focus in Washington when the farm economy is on the brink and prescription drug prices are rising.”
Feehan accused Hagedorn of “standing in silent support of economic uncertainty for our farmers while spreading hate and division in our communities.” He seems to be taking a more aggressive approach against Hagedorn this time around, which was clear in his campaign announcement video.
“Here, we work hard and come together to solve problems. So it’s a disgrace that we’re represented by a congressman who calls women senators ‘bimbos’ and veteran amputees ‘half-soldiers,’ and relied on vile attacks that spread anti-Semitic slurs, stoked racial division, and even questioned my loyalty to the country I risked my life for,” Feehan says in the ad.
When my platoon was taking fire in Iraq, we were in it together, regardless of race, religion or politics. It's the same in #MN01 where we come together to solve problems. I’m running for Congress b/c we need that same approach to fix DC.
Join us today: https://t.co/KSiwW0vqAQ pic.twitter.com/Pzo7MKjJaG
— Dan Feehan (@danielfeehan) October 1, 2019
Feehan has received a number of early endorsements from Minnesota Democrats, such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Gov. Tim Walz, who represented the district before running for governor.
“Proud to support Dan Feehan in the race for MN01. As a solider, a teacher, a public servant, and a family man, he is the right fit to represent this district in Congress,” Walz said. “The people of southern Minnesota would be well served by having Dan as their next congressman.”
Proud to support @danielfeehan in the race for #mn01. As a soldier, a teacher, a public servant, and a family man, he is the right fit to represent this district in Congress. The people of southern Minnesota would be well served by having Dan as their next Congressman. https://t.co/uFLizUJQw8
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) October 3, 2019
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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].
