41A - This is Ron Erhardt’s seat. Will he run as a Republican again? As an Independent? Some speculate he won’t run at all.
16B - Mary Kiffmeyer has already filed for this seat, currently held by Mark Olsen. But I am curious to see what Olsen will do. I suppose the most lkely thing is for him to file as an Independent, but maybe he files as a Republican.
CD8 - The 8th District Republicans promised that Congressman Jim Oberstar would have a topflight candidate. Actually, that’s an understatement. Republicans promised a superstar candidate. Like some crazy combination of Reagan, Eisenhower and Lincoln. Call him Lincanhower. Anyway, Republicans have been keeping this candidate’s identity a secret for months now (for his own protection), but Aaron Brown may have cracked their code. I am eager to find out who this guy is. I do have a theory, but then I’m not sure Chuck Norris has ever even been to the Range.
Correction… it’s Rep. Mark Olson with 2 o’s.
If it’s going to be a big name, I’m guessing it’ll be a Linder. Al Linder has gotten pretty outspoken in the past few years in regards to the virtues of conservative politics and religion.
41a
Got an Erhardt flyer in my front door. So it certainly looks like he’s running, but he listed/mentioned no party affiliation.
So much for a big name candidate to square off against (and maybe get 30% of the vote) Oberstar. Mike Cummins? I was expecting a fishing celebrity or a retired athlete living on a Brainerd/Crosslake/Vermillion Lake to make the run. Then again, after the beating Rod Grams took two years ago, I can see why nobody entered the ring.
A side note, for a guy that complained after getting beat by Dayton that the GOP wouldn’t give him another shot- he did show a lot of loyalty to the party by serving as the sacrificial lamb. It was a nice gesture by Grams forcing Oberstar to campaign and not allowing him to funnel so much his war chest to other races.
Here’s an answer to one of your questions:
http://www.ronerhardt.com/