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7th District: Collin Peterson


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A country-music playing Democrat, Collin Peterson was one of seven conservative Democrats who formed the "Blue Dog" coalition. It was a play on the phrase "Yellow-Dog Democrats," party loyalists who would vote for a yellow dog if it ran on the Democratic ticket. Some Blue Dogs say they were choked blue by their party. But Peterson has pulled back some, complaining that the coalition has become too partisan and too focused on elections.

Peterson is an avid hunter who brings to Capitol Hill an expertise in wildlife, hunting and conservationn issues. This was no more apparent than during the 2000 session, where he fought to stop interstate shipping of birds for cockfighting and promoted legislation to allow hunting of double-crested cormorants, birds Peterson claims are interfering with sport fishing. He's also a licensed private pilot and has an interest in aviation issues.

Peterson opposes a ban on handguns, instead suggesting legislation that would mandate life in prison for anyone who commits a crime with a gun. Peterson gained attention in 1998 when he proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow the Northwest Angle's 100 residents to vote on whether they want to secede from the United States and join Manitoba.

In 2004, Peterson faced a challenge from David Sturrock, a teacher of political science. Peterson easily won re-election by a 66-to-34-percent margin.

According to Project Vote Smart, Peterson received these scores from special interest groups in 2005: NARAL (0%), National Association of Wheat Growers (80%), Humane Society (34%), National Taxpayers Union (32%), U.S. Chamber of Commerce (70%), NAACP (57%), National Education Association (100%), Family Research Council (83%), NOW (100%), Gun Owners of America (50%), American Public Health Association (75%). According to the National Journal, Representative Peterson voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 53 percent of the representatives. He voted more conservative on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 47 percent of the representatives.

Candidate Bio

Collin Peterson
Political affiliation:
Democratic Party
Born:
June 19, 1944
Fargo, ND.
Personal: Divorced.
Three children.
Resides in Detroit Lakes.
Lutheran.
Occupation:
Former accountant, 1966-90. 5th District congressman.
Education:
B.A. Moorhead State University, 1966.
Major political experience:
Elected to House of Representatives in 1990. Served in the Minnesota state Senate, 1977-83.

On the Issues

Audio Alternative energy (4/21/06)
Audio Budget and taxes (4/21/06)
Audio Conservation (4/21/06)
Audio Homeland security (4/21/06)
Audio Immigration (4/21/06)
Audio Iraq (4/21/06)
Audio Immigration (4/21/06)
Audio Social Security and Medicare (4/21/06)

Campaign Finances

Total contributions:
$809,983
Total disbursements
$535,232
Cash on hand
$209,360
Source: Political MoneyLine
October 2006

Links & Resources

Web site:
Document petersonforcongress.com/
Campaign contributions:
Document Political Moneyline

Candidate Pages

Democrat Tim Walz spent his first day as 1st District congressman-elect with family and supporters in Mankato. Walz beat six-term Republican Gil Gutknecht in Tuesday's election. (11/08/2006)
Democrat Keith Ellison campaigned heavily against the war in Iraq, and has put environmental and health care issues at the top of his list of priorities. (11/08/2006)
Bachmann defeated Democrat Patty Wetterling in a hard-fought contest that will go down as the state's most expensive U.S. House race. (11/08/2006)
As a result of the Democrats' taking control of the U.S. House, Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, a DFLer from the 7th District, is in line to become chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer. (11/08/2006)
Minnesota's 3rd District Rep. Jim Ramstad joins Gary Eichten on Midday to discuss his decision to retire from Congress. (Midday, 09/27/2007)
Minnesota 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar is about to become really important in the transportation world. As the ranking Democrat, Oberstar is expected to become chair of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in January. (11/09/2006)
In one of the state's biggest election upsets, Minnesota's 1st Congressional District has gone democratic. First-time candidate Tim Walz won the race with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Republican six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht. (11/08/2006)
Democrat Keith Ellison was elected as the nation's first Muslim member of Congress on Tuesday, easily winning a Minneapolis-area district Republicans had not carried since 1962. He is also Minnesota's first nonwhite representative in Washington. (11/07/2006)
The congressional candidate made the comments during tough questioning at a free-for-all forum in Andover, in the wake of an appearance at a church service last month in which she said "God called me to run for the United States Congress." (11/01/2006)
In less than a week, voters in Minnesota's 5th District will elect a new representative to Congress for the first time in nearly three decades. (11/01/2006)
The candidates for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd District -- incumbent Republican John Kline and his DFL challenger Colleen Rowley -- discuss the issues as part of Midday's "Meet the Candidates" series. (Midday, 11/01/2006)
U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., debates his DFL challenger, Wendy Wilde, as part of Midday's "Meet the Candidates" series. (Midday, 11/01/2006)
The race between U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn., and his DFL challenger Tim Walz has been attracting national attention and money. Gutknecht and Walz sparred in a recent debate. (Midday, 10/31/2006)
Rep. Collin Peterson won the 7th Congressional District seat for the first time in 1990. In the past 16 years, the Democrat has solidified his bond with voters in the conservative district. This year he's challenged by Republican Michael Barrett. (10/31/2006)
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, one of the biggest names in the Democratic Party, spent Monday in Minnesota -- campaigning for Democrats and signing copies of his new book. The atmosphere at the book signing was worthy of a rock star. (10/30/2006)
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