8th District Race
The dean of the delegation, Rep. James Oberstar, is in his 17th term in Congress, making him the longest-serving House member in the state's history. The Eighth is a Democratic stronghold, with the party's power centers located in Duluth and in the cities of the Iron Range. With the Democratic takeover of Congress in the 2006 election, Oberstar took the reins of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as chairman. While the taconite mining industry's troubles have eased somewhat during the past decade, the district's economy is increasingly reliant on tourism in both the lake country and along the north shore of Lake Superior. At the same time, the southern part of the district is attracting Twin Cities commuters, who could ultimately dilute Democratic dominance.
8th District Race stories from Star Tribune
- Letters to the editor for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008I read with great dismay the Nov. 15 article on the National Transportation Safety Board's finding on the cause of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
- NTSB hearing on bridge collapse final report to be live on WebThe board's report will include its "findings, probable cause and safety recommendations," and will appear at www.ntsb.gov shortly after Friday's meeting.
- Oct. 26: I-35W bridge was doomed from the startInvestigators will say the blame lies with designers who erred in calculating the size of key gusset plates, sources say.
- Ambitious Democrats feel optimistic
- Will Obama tap Minnesotans?
- It's a House party for Democrats
- 2008 Minnesota congressional races
- Oberstar looks to job-creating projects
- NTSB bridge findings already criticized
- Points of view: Energy
The political players
Incumbent - Jim Oberstar (D)
The dean of Minnesota's delegation, Democrat Oberstar has for more than three decades been the Washington voice of the distinctive and somewhat old fashioned liberalism of the Iron Range. Progressive on economic matters, the Chisholm native is more conservative on social issues and an advocate for sportsmen's concerns. Chair of the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he is an expert on aviation issues. Read more...
Michael Cummins (R)
In July, the Republican Party in the Eighth District endorsed political newcomer Michael Cummins of Brook Park, to try to do what even veteran politician Rod Grams failed to achieve in 2006: beat incumbent Jim Oberstar. But Cummins says growing national disgust with the gridlock in Washington and entrenched incumbents like Oberstar makes his inexperience an asset. Saying he comes from "a normal family that has debt and hurts like everybody else," Cummins mirrors a set of values important to many in the district. Read more...