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James L. Oberstar is the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation with 16 terms under his belt. He is the longest-serving member of Congress in Minnesota's history. The seniority has brought a powerful committee position and more clout than other politicians from the state. He has an independent streak and is perceived as something of a maverick.
Creole-speaking Oberstar, who served the U.S. Navy in Haiti, came to the House in 1974, seeking to succeed Rep. John Blatnik, his former employer. He lost the DFL endorsement for the seat to state Sen. Tony Perpich, but ran in the primary and defeated Perpich handily.
He had few serious challenges in his subsequent re-election bids. In 1984, he lost a primary bid for the U.S. Senate.
His district is one of the nation's largest. It stretches north from Chisago and Isanti counties in east-central Minnesota, through Duluth and the Iron Range to the Canadian border. He opposes abortion and is against the death penalty.
James Oberstar was elected to the U.S. House in 1974 with 62 percent of the vote. He has been re-elected 14 times, all with ease. Oberstar's three most recent contests are prime examples. In 1998 he defeated Republican Jerry Shuster with 66 percent of the vote in a race that also featured Stan "The Man" Estes. In the 2000 general election he faced another nicknamed challenger, "Cowboy" Bob Lemen, a native Texan who has settled in Grand Rapids. He beat Lemen with 68 percent of the vote. He outspent Lemen $1 million to $22,000. In 2002, he again beat Lemen by a 69-to-31-percent margin.
In 2004, Oberstar faced Mark Groettum, a Republican, and Van Presley, a member of the Green Party. Oberstar cruised to re-election, capturing 65 percent of the vote in the three-way race, the 5th straight election in which he captured at least 65 percent of the votes cast.
James L. Oberstar is the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation with 16 terms under his belt. He is the longest-serving member of Congress in Minnesota's history. The seniority has brought a powerful committee position and more clout than other politicians from the state. He has an independent streak and is perceived as something of a maverick.
Creole-speaking Oberstar, who served the U.S. Navy in Haiti, came to the House in 1974, seeking to succeed Rep. John Blatnik, his former employer. He lost the DFL endorsement for the seat to state Sen. Tony Perpich, but ran in the primary and defeated Perpich handily.
He had few serious challenges in his subsequent re-election bids. In 1984, he lost a primary bid for the U.S. Senate.
His district is one of the nation's largest. It stretches north from Chisago and Isanti counties in east-central Minnesota, through Duluth and the Iron Range to the Canadian border. He opposes abortion and is against the death penalty.
James Oberstar was elected to the U.S. House in 1974 with 62 percent of the vote. He has been re-elected 14 times, all with ease. Oberstar's three most recent contests are prime examples. In 1998 he defeated Republican Jerry Shuster with 66 percent of the vote in a race that also featured Stan "The Man" Estes. In the 2000 general election he faced another nicknamed challenger, "Cowboy" Bob Lemen, a native Texan who has settled in Grand Rapids. He beat Lemen with 68 percent of the vote. He outspent Lemen $1 million to $22,000. In 2002, he again beat Lemen by a 69-to-31-percent margin.
In 2004, Oberstar faced Mark Groettum, a Republican, and Van Presley, a member of the Green Party. Oberstar cruised to re-election, capturing 65 percent of the vote in the three-way race, the 5th straight election in which he captured at least 65 percent of the votes cast.
Candidate Bio
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| Political affiliation: DFL Party |
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| Born: September 10, 1934 Chisholm, Minn. |
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| Personal: Married to Jean Oberstar. Four children from his marriage to Jo, who died in 1991. Catholic. |
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| Occupation: 8th District congressman. Navy civilian language teacher, Haiti, 1959-63. |
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| Education: Bachelor's degree from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., in 1956 and a master's degree from the College of Europe in Belgium in 1957. |
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| Major political experience: Administrative assistant to Rep. John Blatnik, 1963-74; Elected to U.S. House of Representatives, 1974. |
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Show Appearances
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MPR's Stephanie Hemphill interviews Oberstar. (9/23/06) |
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Campaign Finances
| Total contributions $1,198,362 |
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| Total disbursements $943,938 |
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| Cash on hand $479,734 |
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| Source: Federal Election Commission. October 2006 |
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Links and Resources
House Web site:
Rep. Jim Oberstar |
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| Campaign contributors
Political Moneyline |
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Candidate Pages
Mrs. Bush was in Minnetonka Wednesday morning for a $500-a-plate breakfast for Bachmann and the Republican Party.
(10/25/2006)
The race for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District has become competitive with a political newcomer running as a DFLer posing a serious challenger to six-term Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht.
(10/25/2006)
U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo's retirement this year created something of a rarity: an open seat in Congress. With less than three weeks unil the election, Midday listeners get a chance to meet the candidates hoping to take Sabo's place.
(Midday, 10/20/2006)
The candidates in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District face off as part of Midday's Meet the Candidates series.
(Midday, 10/20/2006)
GOP Rep. Gil Gutknecht offered an
optimistic message about America's direction. Democratic challenger
Tim Walz spoke of an America that's desperate for change.
(10/19/2006)
Democratic congressional candidate Keith
Ellison is accusing a St. Louis Park woman of working with a Minneapolis writer to blackmail his campaign.
(10/19/2006)
Rep. Jim Oberstar, D Minn., who has represented Minnesota's 8th District for almost 32 years, is facing a well-known challeger this year: former Sen. Rod Grams, R-Minn. Midday presents their Oct. 17 debate in Grand Rapids.
(Midday, 10/18/2006)
The three major party candidates for the 5th Congressional District seat met for a debate Tuesday evening at a St. Louis Park synagogue. DFLer Keith Ellison, Republican Alan Fine and Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee were asked their views on health care, the war in Iraq and the United States' relationship with Israel.
(10/18/2006)
A watchdog group filed a complaint with the
IRS Tuesday against a Minnesota church, claiming the pastor
violated the church's tax-exempt status by endorsing GOP
congressional candidate Michele Bachmann Saturday night.
(10/17/2006)
A new poll shows Patty Wetterling is the frontrunner in the 6th District race. But Republicans say the poll isn't credible.
(10/17/2006)
The nasty tone of a debate in Blaine carried over from the negative TV ads both
Patty Wetterling and Michele Bachmann have been running.
(10/16/2006)
In Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, Muslims are speaking with a newly found political voice.
(10/13/2006)
Alan Fine, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 5th District, was charged with domestic violence in 1995 for allegedly assaulting his wife, and he later had his record expunged. Fine reacted angrily to a Star Tribune report about the incident, saying he is innocent.
(10/07/2006)
6th District DFL Congressional candidate Patty Wetterling talked to a national radio audience Saturday about child safety and the Mark Foley scandal.
(10/07/2006)
Results of the Reuters/Zogby poll found Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrat Patty Wetterling running neck and neck with just a month left before the election. Meanwhile, the Mark Foley scandal is growing as a campaign issue.
(10/04/2006)
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