As Election Day starts to take shape, WCCO Radio is going Behind the Ballot focusing on a number of key races and issues facing voters on November 3, including the race for U.S. House Minnesota District 2 featuring two well-known names from the Minnesota Senate.
While the race may not be drawing the same level of national attention and financial backing compared to previous years, Republican Eric Pratt, a four-term Minnesota state senator, believes there is still a lot at stake.
"Cost of living is certainly at the top of the list," Pratt told WCCO Radio's Mark Freie. "Families are working harder and they're finding it harder to get ahead. My philosophy is that Minnesotans should be able to keep more of their own money in their pockets."
Pratt, who was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 11, has faced criticism from Democratic challenger Matt Little, a former state senator and former Lakeville mayor. That criticism was echoed during a September debate on WCCO Radio.
"If you're going to go fight for platitudes, I think people should understand that what you're really going to go do is pass whatever Donald Trump tells you to do," Little said. "Otherwise, stake some ground of what you actually believe and are gonna go there and do."
Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District has long been thought of as a "purple" district due to its mix of Republican, Democrat, and Independent voters. Incumbent Rep. Angie Craig vacated the seat to run for U.S. Senate and lost the Aug. 11 primary to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
"You've got to build relationships and compromise," Pratt said when asked about his approach to bipartisan efforts in Washington, D.C. "You need to know what you have to have. Sometimes you have to be willing to say not every negotiation is going to work."
Bipartisanship, according to Little, is achievable and continues to happen.
"It's just that you're not going to see a lot of it put in front of you because of how the algorithms work," Little said. "The algorithms work on disagreement and conflict."
When it comes to November 3, WCCO Radio political analyst Blois Olson believes voters will clearly show whether or not they approve of Pratt's alignment with President Trump.
"One of the problems voters want to solve is either the Trump economy, or the latest Trump unfavorability issue," Olson said. "Trump is very unfavorable. Eric Pratt has to separate himself and be very vocal in pushing back against Trump to match the anti-Trump energy that Matt Little brings to the race."
CD2 features a race between two for Minnesota state senators
CD2 features a race between two for Minnesota state senators
