In this edition of WCCO's "Behind the Ballot", Steve Simpson looks at Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District which is expected to be one of the most competitive in the state and a key race for control of the House nationwide.
Three-term incumbent Democrat Angie Craig is battling with Republican Joe Teirab in a fight that’s been waged with thousands of dollars spent on TV and radio ads along with face-to-face debates that have tackled everything from the economy to abortion rights.
Teirab has touted his experience as a federal prosecutor and marine veteran in the race and says people in the district are ready for a new face.
"We know that we, we need a change, we want to change," Teirab says about the race. "I think there is a status-quo on how things are going and the status-quo has brought us a ton of inflation and high prices. Life is just unaffordable. And so that's a big reason why I'm running."
Teirab was favored by GOP leadership over another candidate, Tyler Rahm, who dropped out of the race after being offered a position in the Trump campaign. Teirab won the GOP primary but did so without the backing of his local Republican party who has since gotten behind Teirab. Some in the party's far-right were not happy with the way that played out.
Craig, meanwhile, leans heavily into her bipartisan record that she says fits the purple and politically diverse district, if not the entire base of her party all the time.
"I'm not going to stop talking to people in my district who don't agree with me on these issues," Craig explains. "I think it's a responsibility to listen to folks that may not always agree with you."
The district is unique in that it encompasses part of the Twin Cities southeastern suburbs, but it's also about 40 percent rural, which traditionally trends Republican.
Since first winning the district in 2018, Craig has widened her margin of victory every election since 2020, no matter her challenger. Craig beat Tyler Kistner 50-45 in 2022, and Kistner 48-46 in 2020. After losing to Republican Jason Lewis in 2016, she defeated him in a rematch 52-47 in 2018.
Teirab has leaned into a narrative of how the district's residents were better off under the Trump Administration than they were over the last four years.
"I think where we find common ground is this the question of, 'are you better off now that you were four years ago?' And resoundingly the answer is no, things were better under the Trump Administration," Teirab said.
Craig, meanwhile has leaned heavily into record as a bipartisan voice for the politcally diverse district, but unapologetic pro-choice stance.
"There is actual agreement across our communities that Roe was working," Craig says. "And that we have to restore Roe. That's why I voted for the Women's Health Protection Act twice, and that's what I'm advocating for."
Recently, the House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D- New York) was in town campaigning on behalf of Craig which speaks to the national importance for the race and who controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
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