Outside groups flood Minnesota with $29M in political spending in four key House races

Rep. Erik Paulsen talks as DFL candidate Dean Phillips listens at their debate at the UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio.. Credit: Tony Saunders, MPR News

– National political spending groups have deluged Minnesota with more than $29 million in four key U.S. House races, a potent symbol of the state’s importance to the battle for control the U.S. House in November.

In northeast Minnesota’s open Eighth District, one of the Republican Party’s best chances nationwide to pick up a seat now held by a Democrat, outside conservative groups have dramatically offset Democrat Joe Radinovich’s fundraising advantage. He’s raised $1.5 million, while Republican Pete Stauber has raised $1.4 million. But outside organizations have spent $7.3 million to target area voters, much of it on ads critical of Radinovich.

The largely rural district, which includes Duluth and the Iron Range, is currently represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who is stepping down. President Donald Trump won it by nearly 16 percentage points in 2016.

View the complete October 20 article by May Rao on the StarTribune website here.