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U.S. Senate: Rod Grams


SNAPSHOT
Grams floated a trial balloon about a run for Senate that went nowhere and he decided not to pursue the seat he once held. After first being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Rod Grams gained the distinction of being the first freshman in the 103rd Congress to get legislation enacted into law: a bill to provide regulatory relief for loans for those devastated by the 1993 Midwest flood. He also pushed a $500 per child tax credit. But much of his focus during his Senate term was revamping Social Security, an issue that really didn't come into its own in Congress until President Bush proposed in 2005 what Grams was proposing in the late '90s. Grams says he was motivated to run for Senate because of the issues that have surfaced in Congress now are the issues he was trying to spearhead then.

Candidate Bio

Rod Grams
Political affiliation:
Republican Party
Born:
February 4, 1948
Princeton, MN
Personal:
Married, four children from previous marriage. Resides in Crown. Lutheran.
Occupation:
Owns three radio stations in Little Falls. Homebuilder. Was anchorman for KMSP-TV in the Twin Cities.
Education:
Carroll College, Helena, MT
Major political experience:
Grams ran and won a U.S. House seat in the 6th Congressional District. He defeated 10-year incumbent Democratic Rep. Gerry Sikorski in 1992. He was elected to the U.S. Senate, replacing the retiring Dave Durenberger in 1996.

Audio Highlights

Audio Grams announces he won't run (4/25/05)

Campaign Report

Cash on hand
$770
Current debt
$46,359

Candidate Pages

DFL U.S. Senate candidates Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell make a joint appearance as part of Midday's Meet the Candidates series. They are both hoping for strong support from the party faithful in Tuesday's precinct caucuses. (Midday, 03/03/2006)
Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn., has set his sights on the U.S. Senate. He's running for the seat vacated by Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton, who is not seeking reelection. (Midday, 03/02/2006)
Ford Bell is one of two Minnesota Demcorats vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate this year. In Midday's ongoing Meet the Candidates series, Bell explains what he'd like to accomplish in Washington. (Midday, 02/24/2006)
Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is hoping to keep Mark Dayton's U.S. Senate seat in Democratic hands. She's already raised well over $2 million to finance her campaign, putting her second in the money race behind Republican contender Rep. Mark Kennedy. (Midday, 02/23/2006)
Republican lawmakers and Emily's List have emerged as big early players in the Minnesota senate race, an Associated Press review of campaign finance reports shows. (02/16/2006)
MPR's Tom Crann talks with Rep. Mark Kennedy about President Bush's proposed federal budget (02/10/2006)
Trial attorney Mike Ciresi has decided not to enter the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He criticized his own party for "not having a voice for issues ordinary people care about." MPR's Tom Scheck talked with Ciresi. (02/08/2006)
On Thursday, President Bush makes his 18th stop in Minnesota since taking office. Given recent approval ratings, does his appearance cast a negative shadow on GOP candidates here? Or does it fire up the base? (02/01/2006)
DFL candidate Kelly Doran leads the money chase in the Minnesota governor's race, thanks mainly to his own loans. In the Senate race, Mark Kennedy is outpacing DFLer Amy Klobuchar. (01/31/2006)
Children's safety advocate Patty Wetterling said Friday she is ending her Democratic campaign for U.S. Senate, and threw her support to Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. (01/20/2006)
Rep. Mark Kennedy, an opponent of drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, voted for a defense bill Monday that authorizes it. (12/19/2005)
President Bush traveled to Minnesota Friday to raise money for the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy. Bush spoke about the need to be tough on terrorism, and also urged Republicans to elect Kennedy to the Senate. (12/09/2005)
President Bush is in town Friday raising money for Minnesota Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy's U.S. Senate bid. With Bush's poll numbers languishing, will he be able to help Republicn candidates? ( 12/09/2005)
President Bush's fundraising visit in support of Senate candidate Mark Kennedy, comes when the president's approval rating in Minnesota has plunged. If that trend continues, it could hurt the chances in 2006. (12/09/2005)
The Pentagon is tentatively considering reducing the number of troops in Iraq by as many as three brigades over the next year, according to news reports. There are currently 18 brigades on the ground. Is U.S. military strategy in Iraq proving effective? ( 11/25/2005)
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