Tag: MN-03

Eric Black over at the Minnesota Monitor has the scoop: apparently, the NRCC is working fast and furious to convince retiring Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad to reverse his decision to retire… and, according to inside sources, Ramstad is seriously considering it.  And this decidedly non-Shermanesque statement from one of Ramstad’s aides leaves the door wide open for a change of heart:

“Jim has been overwhelmed by the huge number of Minnesotans urging him to reconsider, but he has no plans to run for re-election.”

“No plans” is legendary Washingtonspeak for “I haven’t made up my mind” or “I won’t tell you yet”.  It’s no surprise that the NRCC would make the effort to reverse Ramstad’s decision.  Without him on the ballot, Ramstad pushes what was once a safe seat into toss-up territory for the GOP, forcing national Republicans to spend precious resources defending the district that Bush carried by a narrow three point margin against Kerry in 2004.

And in an update, Eric Black writes that a second source believes that Republicans have a good shot at changing Ramstad’s mind:

A second and very reliable source, with insider knowledge of National Republican Congressional Committee efforts to get U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad to run for reelection next year, says the committee believes there’s a better than 50-50 chance Ramstad will do it.

Democrats have a strong contender in state Sen. Terri Bonoff, who reportedly raised $90K in about a week after jumping into the race.  Does Ramstad figure that she’ll withdraw her bid if he decides to run again?  If not, why on earth would he want to turn down retirement and face one of the more competitive races of his career?

Stay tuned.

Race Tracker: MN-03

(That title sort of sounds like the name of a rejected Who compilation.)

If you haven’t been following the absurdly-long list of potential Democratic challengers to fill the seat of vacating Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad in Minnesota’s 3rd District, here’s an update on the latest action.

• Former Congressman Bill Luther told MN Publus that he would pass on the race.
• State Rep. Maria Ruud will run for re-election.
• Hubert H. “Buck” Humphrey IV (grandson of the vice president) is out as of late last week:

  Hubert H. (Buck) Humphrey IV, who has been widely identified as a likely frontrunner in the race for the DFL nomination for the open congressional seat in the Third District has decided not to run.

  “I will verify that,” Humphrey just told me when I called him to check out the rumor.

  Humphrey, grandson of a vice president and presidential nominee, son of a Minnesota attorney general and gubernatorial nominee, and himself a one-time candidate (for Minn. Secretary of State) said that while he was quickly pulling together financing, an organization and a plan to run for the nomination, he and his wife decided that right now, with two daughters ages five and two, was not the time to make the full-time, full-family, full-body commitment necessary to succeed in a campaign like the one ahead for Congress.

• Former Hennepin County attorney candidate Andy Luger is also out, despite earlier rumors suggesting he was committed to the race.
• State Sen. Terri Bonoff is definitely in.
• Other possible candidates include state Reps. Melissa Hortman and Steve Simon, former US Attorney David Lillehaug, and even former gubernatorial candidate Steve Kelley.

For a comprehensive overview of all the potential DFL candidates, check out this MN Publius candidate report.

Race Tracker: MN-03

And yet another Republican Congressman decides they're just not fit for life in the minority: 

U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., will not seek a 10th term, said two state Republican officials. 

The officials spoke on the condition that they not be identified so as not to pre-empt Ramstad's announcement. Ramstad's office had scheduled a news conference for 3 p.m. in Minnetonka.

Ramstad's district is seriously competitive for Democrats. The district has a PVI of R+0.5 and supported Bush over Kerry by only 3 points. This seat should quickly become a top DCCC target.

(h/t to a familiar name over at TPM)

Update: Heavy analysis of the district and potential candidates at MNPublius.

Race Tracker: MN-03