Rep. Ramstad (R-Minn.) Will Not Seek 10th Term - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Rep. Ramstad Will Not Seek 10th Term


Minnesota Rep. Ramstad Will Not Seek a 10th Term,
Republican Officials Say

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON Sep 17, 2007 (AP)

Minnesota Rep. Jim Ramstad will not seek a tenth term,
said two state Republican Party 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, a recovering alcoholic, has focused much of his
energy on addiction and alcohol issues. He has pushed
for years for legislation that would require equal health
insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses,
when policies include both.

-snip-

[Greeby]

1. I hear a familiar bassline starting up

;)

[Kelly Rupert]

2. Interesting. I always admired his addiction and mental-health stances,

among others. and I'm not ashamed to say I voted for him a few times because of them. He was one of the few Republicans who confronted his problems, acknowledged them publicly, and then worked to benefit, rather than demonize, those with similar problems. Yeah, he was Republican. Yeah, he was a "fiscal conservative" and vaguely pro-war. But he was pro-choice, pro-environment, and pro-gun-control. There are worse Republicans in Congress.

[gratuitous]

4. Are you in his district?

What's the political landscape like? Is Ramstad likely to be succeeded by another Republican, or do the Democrats have a legitimate chance to change this seat over, too?

[jean]

6. Not to answer for Kelly R., but you can follow DU-MN discussion of this opportunity here:

Jim Ramstad to make major announcement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=160x27339

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

7. MN-03 is one of two districts in Republican hands...

Interesting tidbit: MN-03 went for Bush in 2004, but only by 51% (Ramstad actually polls better than Bush). He won re-election in 2006 by a comfy 65-35 margin, but I don't know anything about his Democratic opponent. It could be in play.

Edit: I think there are more than two districts held by Republicans. My bad. There are three.

[gratuitous]

8. I just checked Daily Kos

He has a pretty good web of folks who report in on stuff like this. Apparently Ramstad is a District with a slight Republican plurality, and he won his elections mostly by winning the unaffiliated or independent voters. According to the Kos analysis, the District is bending DFL, though. Part of the ripple effect from Ramstad's stepping down is that the independent vote will be more up for grabs, and statewide races in Minnesota can't depend on his persuading independents to vote Republican down the ticket.

As with any retirement of a long-term elected official, it will provide an opening to the opposition party; what it may also do in this case is hurt Republicans in statewide races, as this district may not trend Republican following Ramstad's lead.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. I was wondering as I was driving home this afternoon...

Ramstad seems like a fairly moderate guy. I wonder if you're a moderate Republican facing re-election, knowing that you'll have to raise north of $750,000, and knowing that you'll have to defend a series of disastrous policy decisions that you may not have been completely on board with in the first place, and knowing that even then you may not win re-election, and knowing that even if you do win, you'll be in a decided minority and unable to get any legislation passed, maybe you'll just decide that this is the right time to get out of Washington. If I were a moderate Republican, I think now would be the time to take that teaching/lobbying/consulting gig that was offered to me a few years back.

[jean]

3. Hugh! I'm waiting with bated breath to see who tries to fill his shoes!

I wonder if the state repub party will fund Ramstad's replacement as heavily as they did him. You couldn't drive anywhere out here during campaign season without being smacked in the face by Ramstad billboards.

:popcorn:

[SaveElmer]

5. A good guy...

Defended Patrick Kennedy from Republican criticism of his drug addiction problems...and helped Kennedy get through treatment...