Capitol View: May 8, 2011 Archive

Clark says she's challenging Cravaack

Posted at 6:51 AM on May 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: Michele Bachmann, Redistricting, U.S. House

Democrat Tarryl Clark told the Duluth News Tribune that she's moving to Duluth and will run for Congress in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. Clark told the paper that she and her husband will buy a condo in Duluth and will spend a "good chunk" of her time there. Clark represented St. Cloud in the Minnesota Legislature.

The seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack, a freshman Republican who is targeted by Democrats as a seat that they can win in 2012. The seat was held by Democrats for decades until Cravaack defeated DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar in 2010.

Clark, who lost a run for Congress against GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann in 2010, is a solid fundraiser. She raised $5 million in that race.

The key question is whether Minnesota's 8th District lines stay the same. The 2010 Census requires Gov. Dayton and the Legislature to redraw the lines to ensure equal representation.

House Republicans will release their version of the Congressional maps on Monday. The courts will take over and draw the maps if the GOP controlled Legislature and Gov. Dayton can't agree to a set of lines by February 21st of next year.

Clark makes another run for Congress

Posted at 2:42 PM on May 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Redistricting, U.S. House

Tarryl Clark says she's planning a 2012 run against Republican freshman 8th District Congressman Chip Cravaack.

Clark, a former DFL state senator from St. Cloud, lost a bid to unseat Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in 2010.

That race was for the sixth district. Clark says she and her husband, Doug, bought a home in Duluth a few months ago. Asked if that makes her vulnerable to charges of moving for personal political gain Clark had this response:

"I have deep roots and connections and you know no one of us can be from every community," Clark said. "I'm certainly proud of central Minnesota and I love northeastern Minnesota and believe that honestly, this is not about me, it's about all of us coming together to create change."

When asked about the possibility that the congressional lines could be redrawn, Clark says it's too important to wait for the final map to be drawn.

Clark says she'll announce her bid in an email to supporters tomorrow. Cravaack's spokesman didn't immediately return calls for comment.

Cravaack's spokesman said Cravaack "looks forward to engaging whoever the DFL endorses on the issues that matter to the people of the 8th District."

You can listen to Clark's full interview with MPR's Rupa Shenoy here: Listen

Update: Clark released this web video to discuss her run.