WASHINGTON — Roll Call has rated the 8th District race between Rep. Chip Cravaack and one of three Democratic challengers as a toss-up this November, and the first-term Republican was named an honorable mention to their list of the top ten most vulnerable incumbents this November.
Democrats desperately want to defeat Cravaack, who knocked off 35-year incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar in 2010, and he’s easily their biggest target in Minnesota this year. But an August primary between former state Rep. Tarryl Clark (who has committed to running in one), former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (who has said he will abide by the DFL’s endorsement) and Duluth City Councilman Jeff Anderson (who hasn’t said either way) could “be bruising,” Roll Call predicts:
Cravaack’s 2010 win was a political stunner, and because he got no relief in redistricting, this is the most competitive seat in the North Star State.
That 2010 race was a squeaker, but it was enough to defeat longtime Rep. James Oberstar (D).
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Democrats say Cravaack is too conservative for the district and are making hay over the fact that his family moved to New Hampshire because of his wife’s employment.
Republicans are concerned about holding the seat. Still, they say the Democratic primary between former state Sen. Tarryl Clark, former Rep. Rick Nolan and Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson could be bruising. Clark recently irked the state party establishment when she announced that she would bypass the DFL Party endorsement process and press on to the August primary.
Clark previously ran against Rep. Michele Bachmann and moved to Duluth to challenge Cravaack before the new map was complete. Should Nolan get the nomination, Republicans are eager to mine his voting record and paint him as a Washington, D.C., insider.
Cravaack was named a runner-up for the most vulnerable incumbents list, which includes four other first-term Republicans.
Roll Call projects other Minnesotans — including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, running for re-election for the first time, Rep. Tim Walz, who Republicans have targeted, John Kline, whose district received an influx of Democratic voters through redistricting, and Collin Peterson, a moderate Democrat whose district leans Republican — to hold their seats.
Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com. Follow him on Twitter: @dhenry
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