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Gil Gutknecht - 1st District
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Gil Gutknecht entered Congress in 1994 as a soldier in the Republican revolution being led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich is gone, and Gutknecht has found his own path, bucking his party in on key issues such as the nation's milk policy, a crucial concern to this district, and the importation of prescription drugs. In the race for the GOP nomination to the 1st District U.S. House seat in 1994, Gutknecht defeated former U.S. Rep. Arlen Erdahl, in part by trying to claim retiring incumbent Democratic Rep. Tim Penny's mantle of fiscal conservatism. A trained auctioneer, Gutknecht is known for his quick tongue.
In recent sessions, Gutknecht has pressed for prescription drug bill provisions that would allow the importation of U.S.-made pharmaceuticals sold more cheaply abroad and would help push low-cost generic drugs onto the market. Close to home, Gutknecht in August of 2002 voiced his support for expansion plans by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad, despite opposition to the project from many constituents in Mankato and Rochester who are concerned about noice and traffic problems. Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons agreed to transfer Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 of plotting to blow up landmarks in New York and Washington, from Rochester's Federal Medical Center to a federal prison in Colorado. Gutknecht had been seeking the transfer for months.
Gutknecht serves on the House Budget, Agriculture, and Science and Technology committees.
Gil Gutknecht was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat John Hottinger. He was re-elected in 1996 with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Mary Rieder. In 1998, Gutknecht was re-elected defeating Democrat Tracy Beckman with 55 percent of the vote. Facing Rieder again, he was re-elected in 2000 with 56 percent of the vote. In 2002, Gutknecht easily defeated DFL Steve Andreasen by a 61-to-35% margin. He was unopposed in the primary. In 2004, Gutknecht again enjoyed an easy win over DFLer Leigh Pomeroy by a 60%-to-35% margin. See District 1 2004 election results.
Gil Gutknecht entered Congress in 1994 as a soldier in the Republican revolution being led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich is gone, and Gutknecht has found his own path, bucking his party in on key issues such as the nation's milk policy, a crucial concern to this district, and the importation of prescription drugs. In the race for the GOP nomination to the 1st District U.S. House seat in 1994, Gutknecht defeated former U.S. Rep. Arlen Erdahl, in part by trying to claim retiring incumbent Democratic Rep. Tim Penny's mantle of fiscal conservatism. A trained auctioneer, Gutknecht is known for his quick tongue.
In recent sessions, Gutknecht has pressed for prescription drug bill provisions that would allow the importation of U.S.-made pharmaceuticals sold more cheaply abroad and would help push low-cost generic drugs onto the market. Close to home, Gutknecht in August of 2002 voiced his support for expansion plans by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad, despite opposition to the project from many constituents in Mankato and Rochester who are concerned about noice and traffic problems. Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons agreed to transfer Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 of plotting to blow up landmarks in New York and Washington, from Rochester's Federal Medical Center to a federal prison in Colorado. Gutknecht had been seeking the transfer for months.
Gutknecht serves on the House Budget, Agriculture, and Science and Technology committees.
Gil Gutknecht was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat John Hottinger. He was re-elected in 1996 with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Mary Rieder. In 1998, Gutknecht was re-elected defeating Democrat Tracy Beckman with 55 percent of the vote. Facing Rieder again, he was re-elected in 2000 with 56 percent of the vote. In 2002, Gutknecht easily defeated DFL Steve Andreasen by a 61-to-35% margin. He was unopposed in the primary. In 2004, Gutknecht again enjoyed an easy win over DFLer Leigh Pomeroy by a 60%-to-35% margin. See District 1 2004 election results.
Patty Wetterling's uncertain political future
Democrat Patty Wetterling lost her bid for Congress by 30,000 votes. But political observers say Wetterling, as a first-time candidate, made a good showing against incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy. Now many wonder about Wetterling's political future. (11/03/2004)
Minnesota members of Congress return to Washington
Minnesota is sending back all of the state's incumbents to Congress. Republican Mark Kennedy defeated DFL challenger Patty Wetterling in the race that garnered most of the attention. Kennedy received 54 percent of the vote in Minnesota's 6th District to Wetterling's 46 percent of the vote. Kennedy's victory means that Minnesota's congressional delegation will be split with four Republicans and four Democrats. Members of both parties say they hope to put the recent partisan rhetoric behind them when they go back to Washington. (11/02/2004)
Gutkencht confident of eighth term
For more than a decade, Republican Gil Gutknecht has represented the 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He's won his last few races handily. This year's election is unlikely to be any different. In fact Gutknecht is so confident he's barely campaigning at all. (10/29/2004)
Meet the Candidates: Mark Kennedy and Patty Wetterling
The congressional race in Minnesota's 6th District has been one of the most closely watched in the country. In what would otherwise be a relatively safe reelection campaign, Republican Mark Kennedy is facing a challenge from a very well-known first-time candidate: missing children's advocate Patty Wetterling. Minnesota Public Radio's Meet the Candidates series continues with back-to-back interviews with Kennedy and Wetterling. ( 10/28/2004)
1st District and 5th District debates
Minnesota Public Radio's Meet the Candidates series continues with the congressional candidates in the 1st and 5th Districts. ( 10/27/2004)
3rd District debate
Minnesota Public Radio's Meet the Candidates series continues with the 3rd District congressional candidates, incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad and his DFL challenger Deborah Watts. In the 2nd half hour, a look at the Senate races in South Dakota and Wisconsin. ( 10/27/2004)
Meet the candidates: 2nd Congressional District
A live Minnesota Public Radio debate between the candidates running for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. Republican John Kline is in his first term in the U.S. Congress and is defending his seat against Democrat Teresa Daly. Independence Party candidate Doug Williams was also invited to participate in the debate but did not respond. ( 10/26/2004)
Meet the candidates: 4th Congressional District
A live Minnesota Public Radio debate between the candidates running for Minnesota's 4th Congressional District. Betty McCollum, a two-term Democratic incumbent, is defending her seat against Republican Patrice Bataglia. Independence Party candidate Peter Vento was also invited to participate in the debate but did not respond. ( 10/26/2004)
Sixth District candidates debate
Sixth District Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy is defending his seat from well-known missing children's advocate Patty Wetterling, a Democrat. They square off at a Sunday evening debate in St. Paul sponsored by the League of Women Voters and KSTP-TV. Minnesota Public Radio broadcasts the debate as part of our "Meet the Candidates" series. ( 10/25/2004)
Kennedy, Wetterling stage final 6th District debate
Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy and his Democratic challenger Patty Wetterling are involved in one of Minnesota's hottest congressional races. Their final debate was broadcast live from a Twin Cities television station. (10/25/2004)
Negative ads suggest close race in Minnesota's 6th District
Republican Mark Kennedy and the National Republican Congressional Committee are stepping up their criticism of DFLer Patty Wetterling. Both Kennedy and the NRCC are running television advertisements questioning Wetterling's credibility as a candidate and the special interest groups that support her. Wetterling says the ads are unfair and has countered with an ad of her own questioning the Republican tactics. (10/21/2004)
Congressional candidates debate in St. Cloud
The two candidates for Minnesota's 6th Congressional District met over the weekend for their second debate in St. Cloud. Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy and Democratic challenger Patty Wetterling showed contrasting opinions on topics ranging from Social Security to the war in Iraq. (10/17/2004)
In Minnesota's sprawling 6th District, the battleground may be TV
The candidates in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District are battling over the war on terrorism and homeland security. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy has been running an ad suggesting DFL opponent Patty Wetterling opposes the war in Afghanistan. Wetterling says Kennedy is misleading voters and has been running her own ads touting her accomplishments in fighting crime. (10/14/2004)
Hard feelings mark Minnesota's 2nd District race
Republican Congressman John Kline and DFL Challenger Teresa Daly met on Monday for their second debate. The two candidates are running in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, which includes some southern Twin Cities suburbs and stretches south into Red Wing and Faribault. The 2002 race in Minnesota's 2nd was fiercely competitive, with Kline and DFL opponent Bill Luther both claiming the other was using underhanded tactics to get elected. The current race is likely to follow suit since both candidates are claiming their their opponent is engaged in mudslinging. (10/04/2004)
Kennedy, Wetterling debate issues in 6th District race
Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy and DFL challenger Patty Wetterling met in their first head-to-head debate on Sunday in Minneapolis. The two candidates are running in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, which takes up St. Cloud, the northern Twin Cities suburbs and eastern suburbs, such as Woodbury and Stillwater. (10/04/2004)
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