Minnesota's Changing 8th Congressional District

Minnesota Public Radio News

Campaign 2010

The 2010 election changed the landscape of Minnesota politics. For the first time, Republicans have control of both the Minnesota House and Senate.

And in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, 18-term Rep. Jim Oberstar — who, along with Rep. John Blatnik, had kept the Arrowhead under Democratic representation since 1947 — was ousted by upstart Republican Chip Cravaack.

Change in the 8th:
A red blip or something more?

If anything can be concluded from the Nov. 2 election, it's that -- like many areas of the country -- the 8th District has become less predictable.

Cravaack finds appeal in the 8th to unseat Oberstar

Republican Chip Cravaack seemed to come out of nowhere to defeat Oberstar. /p>

Voters in the 8th say Oberstar became big government

Some voters complain that Oberstar—who was born and raised in Chisholm—didn't spend enough time in the district in recent years and couldn't relate to the people back home.

Oberstar's defeat ends long era of transportation policy influence

The defeat of Jim Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, means a lot less clout for Minnesota transportation projects on Capitol Hill.