Opinion editor’s note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
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Three-term U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is as close as it comes in politics to being a sure thing. While it’s too late to change that for the 2024 election, Minnesota Republicans should start the search now for a serious candidate who can actually challenge her in 2030. Competition is beneficial for both voters and politicians.
Klobuchar, 64, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term in Washington, D.C. While upsets can and do happen, the double-digit margins of victory in her last three races is a key reason why one is unlikely in her 2024 matchup with Republican candidate Royce White.
Klobuchar trounced challengers in 2006, 2012 and 2018 with an astounding average margin of 26.3%. She heads into the 2024 election’s closing days with a massive financial advantage over her unconventional opponent.
White, 33, is a former NBA player turned political provocateur. He is a frequent contributor to the InfoWars show hosted by Alex Jones, who is infamous for falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting didn’t happen.
Klobuchar has provided sensible representation, emerging as a champion for veterans and consumer protections. She’s also an outspoken reproductive rights advocate. But there’s always room for growth.
A cyberattack earlier this year at a subsidiary of Minnesota-based UnitedHealth illustrated one such opportunity. The massive hack compromised consumer data. Klobuchar has written a book called “Antitrust.” The Washington Post reported that Klobuchar serves as the lead Democrat on a Senate panel that reviews antitrust concerns. But, the newspaper noted, the panel had “never summoned UnitedHealth to testify on its operations.”
