A former Marine Corps officer announced his candidacy Wednesday for the Republican endorsement to take on Rep. Angie Craig in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District.
Tyler Kistner, who spent nine years in the Marines, announced his candidacy in a prepared statement released to the media Tuesday.
“It’s time for a new generation of leaders to represent the very best of Minnesota and assume the mantle of leadership,” he said. “I will go out to Washington and say enough is enough by taking action to address hard issues.”
According to the Associated Press, Kistner graduated from the University of Minnesota and then joined the Marines, serving in the Marine Raiders, an elite special-operations command.
“Over the next 10 months I will work hard to showcase my dedication, my work ethic and my resolve to achieve the results we need in this country,” Kistner wrote on Twitter after announcing his candidacy.
I am proud to announce my candidacy to represent Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. Over the next ten months I will work hard to showcase my dedication, my work ethic & resolve to achieve the results we need in this country. #kistnerforcongress #uscongress #minnesota pic.twitter.com/YuRePD1iZC
— Tyler Kistner (@kistnercongress) January 8, 2020
Kistner said the Second Congressional District needs “a representative that will do more than talk.”
“We need results. I am ready to serve Minnesota’s Second Congressional District,” he said.
Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District needs a representative that will do more than talk. We need results. I am ready to serve Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District! #kistnerforcongress #kistner4congress #uscongress #minnesota #mndistrict2 #rhrn pic.twitter.com/euwQCWT9gz
— Tyler Kistner (@kistnercongress) January 8, 2020
He joins attorney and former Michigan lawmaker Rick Olson in the field of Republicans seeking to challenge Craig. Olson, who announced his candidacy in September, said in a December statement that he would have voted in favor of the articles of impeachment brought against President Donald Trump.
Craig is currently serving her first term in Congress after unseating former Republican Rep. Jason Lewis, who defeated Craig for the open seat in 2016. Instead of running against Craig for a third time, Lewis is running for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Tina Smith.
Craig, who voted in favor of both articles of impeachment, is one of 31 Democrats in the U.S. House representing a district carried by the president in 2016. President Trump won Minnesota’s Second Congressional District by just over a point.
Kistner said in his statement that he is married, has one daughter, and lives in Prior Lake.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Tyler Kistner” by Tyler Kistner.
He gets my vote!