Stauber vs. Radinovich: 8th Congressional District debate
Republican Pete Stauber and Democrat Joe Radinovich are locked in one of the most hotly contested races for Congress in the country this election season.
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Joe Radinovich, left, and Pete Stauber. (Steve Kohls | Brainerd Dispatch and Derek Montgomery for MPR News) The race to represent Minnesota's 8th District is one of the most hotly contested Congressional contests in the country. Republican Pete Stauber, a retired police officer and a St. Louis County commissioner, and DFL candidate Joe Radinovich, who served in the state Legislature and worked for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, are the frontrunners in the race.They'll join MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy for a debate in MPR's UBS Forum on Friday, Oct. 26 at 11 a.m.
Listen on our radio stream or watch live video on our Facebook page. We'll be blogging here with real-time analysis and updates.
Have a question for the candidate? Submit it here.
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Which Minnesota 8th Congressional District candidate do you agree with most?
Republican Pete Stauber, Democrat Joe Radinovich and Independent Ray "Skip" Sandman are all competing for the open seat in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District after incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan announced he wouldn't be running for re-election. Not sure how to vote? Try out this quiz. -
8th District looms in battle for House
President Trump narrowly lost Minnesota two years ago but he won big in the 8th District — by nearly 16 percentage points. Even so, DFL U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan managed to hold on to his seat. Nolan is not running for re-election. Republicans hope strong support for Trump in northern Minnesota will help them flip the open seat. In 2016 Democrats held off Republicans in the 8th District race by less than one-half of a percentage point. (MPR News) -
Here's our voter guide for the race
Ask the candidates: 8th District candidates Stauber and Radinovich debate
The race to represent Minnesota's 8th District is one of the most hotly contested Congressional contests in the country. The frontrunners in the race will meet for a debate in MPR's UBS Forum on Friday, Oct. 26. -
8th District candidates are here and ready to debate @MPRnews https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqckSHnWkAEDYJs.jpg
by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 10/26/2018 4:04:11 PM -
This is one of the most-watched congressional races in the nation. Tune in for the next hour to see the top two candidates debate the issues #AsktheCandidatesby Briana Bierschbach via twitter 10/26/2018 4:07:23 PM
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Where they stand: On President Trump
Stauber: He voted for Donald Trump. Both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have visited Minnesota to endorse Stauber. During Trump's visit, Stauber expressed his support of the president, thanking him for his work improving the economy and for "putting America and the American worker first."
Radinovich: He has expressed a willingness to work with the president if elected. However, Radinovich has taken issue with the administration's decision to cut short a study of the impact mining in the region could have on the environment.
Sandman: He wholeheartedly disagrees with Trump's decision to drop out of the Paris Climate Accord and slams the administration's tendency to put business over environment when making decisions.
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DFLer Phillips loans 3rd District campaign $1 .3 million ift.tt/2yyPBneby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:11:16 PM
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Democrat Joe Radinovich is more critical of the tax cuts, saying they'll increase the federal deficit. He says infrastructure investments are crucialby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:11:43 PM
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This is one of the most-watched congressional races in the nation. Tune in for the next hour to see the top two can… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…by Briana Bierschbach via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 10/26/2018 4:11:43 PM
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Where they stand: On health care
Stauber: He supports "patient-driven and physician-guided" health care and said he would support free-market principals in our health care system.
Radinovich: He supports single-payer, universal health care, calling it a human right. Radinovich has said with our current system too much money goes to "middlemen and special interests."
Sandman: He also calls health care a human right and supports a single-payer system, pointing to hospitals' dedication to profit and insurance and drug companies spending on lobbying as a roadblock in enacting Medicare for All.
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On Trump: Stauber said he supports him on taxes and the economy, but he disagrees with him on funding for Great Lakes restoration and some pieces of the new trade deal. Radinovich agrees with Trump on infrastructure investments, but he thinks the tax bill benefited the wealthyby Briana Bierschbach via twitter 10/26/2018 4:13:47 PM
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Radinovich says he'd vote to repeal the GOP tax cuts, saying they help the wealthy more than the middle classby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:16:27 PM
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Where they stand: On the GOP tax law
Stauber: He strongly supports the tax law, crediting it with bringing essential tax cuts to average families in the 8th District and with providing opportunities for businesses to invest in their workforce.
Radinovich: He opposes the law, saying it favors the super-wealthy and that it will make the country's current deficit worse.
Sandman: He says he would vote to repeal the tax plan, saying it would add trillions of dollars to the country's deficit.
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Radinovich defends his Medicare-for-all plan by noting how much health care already costs; Stauber says his opponent has "zero credibility" on health care, criticizing his involvement in MNsureby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:23:49 PM
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Radinovich says his plan for health care would eliminate some plans, but it would ensure all people have health care insuranceby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:27:49 PM
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Stauber says he's the only candidate who supports copper-nickel mining, iron mining and the Line 3 oil pipeline. He says the Boundary Waters has a "buffer" protecting itby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:31:32 PM
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Why the 8th matters for control of the U.S. House
If the GOP is going to hang on to their majority they need to flip seats like Minnesota's 8th District. It's currently held by Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan.Cook Political Report: Most Democratic incumbents are in excellent shape, but the party holds five at-risk open seats. Of those, they're sure to lose Pennsylvania's 14th District, which Rep. Conor Lamb is leaving to run in a nearby seat after the state's map was redrawn. The next two most vulnerable open seats are in rural Minnesota. Democrats probably need to hold two of five.
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Radinovich says he supports mining projects that meet all standards, noting there's still mining activity in the districtby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:32:36 PM
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Where they stand: On Polymet's plan for a copper-nickel mine
Stauber: He supports Polymet's plans to mine near the boundary waters and is adamant that there can be a balance between supporting mining and protecting the environment. Stauber says technology used to prevent pollution will ensure the project is safe. He has been critical of moves that stall the project's approval process.
Radinovich: He says he supports the endevor, but only if Polymet is able to meet all the environmental standards in place. In a debate he also talked about the importance of making sure the company is held accountable to the business plan they have laid out should the mine go bankrupt and need to close.
Sandman: He completely opposes the copper-nickel mine and says the company's financial assurances — which would be used for any potential environmental cleanup — are not enough in any scenario where the surrounding environment is polluted. To those who think the mine is necessary to bring jobs to the region, Sandman says high-paying jobs are not a guarantee and are not a priority of mining corporations.
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Stauber is asked about his emails from a government account to a national Republican group. Some background on the controversy blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2…by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:37:00 PM
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Radinovich says Stauber should release his emails in the interest of accountability and transparency; Stauber calls the whole issue a politically motivated attackby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:39:06 PM
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Radinovich is asked about his past traffic tickets and dropped citation for marijuana paraphernalia possession when he was a teen. Says his record is public, that mistakes make him "more human"by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:40:20 PM
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Stauber says the late parking tickets, etc., are telling of Radinovich's characterby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:41:06 PM
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Stauber: "Joe Radinovich would still be living in the metro if Rick Nolan had not vacated his seat."by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:42:39 PM
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Stauber: He goes back to his experience as a police officer, where he was often faced with making "life-altering" decisions quicklyby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:45:05 PM
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Radinovich: I'd "put myself in someone else's shoes"by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:45:40 PM
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Where they stand: On climate change:
Stauber: Stauber believes the U.S. shouldn't rejoin the Paris climate deal and favors an "all-of-the-above" policy for energy over what he considers burdensome, job-killing regulation.
Radinovich: His stance on the environment mostly focuses on mining in the region, promoting a strong regulatory process for any projects. He also supports funding for the state to meet its CO2 emission goals and the move toward a "clean energy economy."
Sandman: He has vowed to fight climate change by discouraging the use of fossil fuels and investing in green energy and the jobs it creates.
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Now onto climate change....
Stauber: It's important to look at causes of climate change, find the best ways to mitigate it
Radinovich: There should be no discussion climate change is largely caused by humans. Adaptation, mitigation and clean energy are crucialby MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:47:33 PM -
Lots of back-and-forth on gun laws now. Here's some specific info on where the candidates stand on gun control mprnews.org/story/2018/10/…by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:53:09 PM
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Closing statements now...
Stauber: "Pete Stauber believes in the people," Radinovich "always goes to the government."
Radinovich: "The economy is changing very rapidly" and the answer is not giving breaks to the wealth, it's about funding health care, education. #MN08by MPR Politics via twitter 10/26/2018 4:58:52 PM -
Arguments over. Judge Stoney Hiljus will not rule today on release of Stauber campaign emails. Monday or Tuesday, he said.by Brady Slater via twitter retweeted by bbierschbach 10/26/2018 5:17:22 PM -
Here's our full story from today's debate
Radinovich, Stauber talk Trump, taxes, character in lively CD 8 debate
The Democratic and Republican candidates in the race for Minnesota's 8th District clashed frequently Friday during an hour-long debate on MPR News.