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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)weak spots for the Rethugs for several years. Should have flipped years ago,lack of funds and a aggressive ground game slowed the effort.
LAS14
(13,783 posts)... you mean by "weak spots?"
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)is a study in backward thinking of People,Two things,Iron Ore mining Ain't coming back. The Taconite is not price competitive on the Foreign Market. That market belongs to a Aussie Company until their Pit runs dry. Higher Ferrous content and know one can match the price per long ton.
Secondly,some of these folks are holding out for a return of the OSB plants to open. It is all about raw materials and cost to produce. Marketable Timber there is not,and Potlach is not about to run money losing operations.
These folks are just running on scared,much like the Coal Miners.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)Radinovich won Duluth almost 2-to-1, and won the Range, except for 5B, which is oddly drawn and trends R. The bigger issue is the southern half of the district, particularly Chisago and Isanti, which were added to reduce the Range's political power.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)about the Istanti County nightmare. Just assumed that was moved to Sixth. Wow,understand,use to live in Anoka County on the North boundry with Isanti,remember the Fundies and Ignoramuses up the road. And all the Militia Puss Gut wannabes.
Stand Corrected,thanks for the info.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)don't get me wrong, there is plenty of that. But the unions are still very strong on the Range and in Duluth, and the IR just doesn't have the population it used to to wag the 8th. It's much more Duluth+IR vs. Chisago/Isanti and other rural areas.
It's a complicated district that doesn't lend itself to easy answers right now, when it used to be very reliable.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)of the Sixth in order to kill off the Strong DFL base we enjoyed for decades. Two Mega Hate filled Churches and Michele Bachnman were made to order after that.
Response to LAS14 (Original post)
David__77 This message was self-deleted by its author.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)The issue is that the 8th was redrawn in a way that it added some strong red population centers that "balance" and are quickly outweighing Duluth and the Iron Range.
David__77
(23,397 posts)Thank you. I hope that that can be reversed somehow.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)weathered the manufacturing downturn, and has built a reputation as a place to go for young families who work in health care, tech and education. Craft beer, lots of outdoor activities, progressive politics, an increasingly vibrant food community, etc.
David__77
(23,397 posts)I deleted my original post because I don't think it's accurate.
My father came from Duluth, and I only went there once when I was 11 or 12. I enjoyed bicycling on some trails. The hills outside town were nice too. My father was a Republican and talked about how Democratic and pro-union it was in Duluth. I hope it retains that legacy in the years to come.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)It's a very Democratic and pro-union town. It's under attack, of course -- just like it is everywhere -- but there's no place like it.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)centers, making it much more of a swing district (which tend to favor Republicans). In addition, more than $7 million of outside money was spent on attack ads against the DFLer. It's a bunch of small things that gave the Republican the edge.
Arger68
(679 posts)And it's a very red district as a rule. Tim Walz won it in the 2006 blue wave but he decided to run for governor and won. The farmers in this district are all about Trump and many will go broke due to the tariffs but they don't seem to care.
District 8 is in the iron range, and mining tops all up there. They are trying to open a copper mine close to the beautiful boundary waters and Republicans are more than happy to destroy the environment to make a buck.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,344 posts)eight years later (it's now a swing district, and swing districts tend to favor Republicans), a strong dedication to uniting behind the DFLer, and cypher running as a Republican.