And yet another Republican Congressman decides they're just not fit for life in the minority:
U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., will not seek a 10th term, said two state Republican officials.
The officials spoke on the condition that they not be identified so as not to pre-empt Ramstad's announcement. Ramstad's office had scheduled a news conference for 3 p.m. in Minnetonka.
Ramstad's district is seriously competitive for Democrats. The district has a PVI of R+0.5 and supported Bush over Kerry by only 3 points. This seat should quickly become a top DCCC target.
(h/t to a familiar name over at TPM)
Update: Heavy analysis of the district and potential candidates at MNPublius.
Race Tracker: MN-03
I lived in Minneapolis during the first bit of Jim Ramstad’s stint in Congress, and as far as Republicans go I rather like him. He was pretty moderate on most social issues, and a good and decent guy. If most Republicans were like him things would be a lot better!! BUT ….. this does give us one of the best opportunities in the whole country — I think this might be similar to the suburban Denver seat we picked up last year. If the Reps nominate someone like Ramstad to run I think it will be a toss-up, and if they are stupid enough to nominate a Club-for-Growth type, we should have the advantage.
This is a great pickup opportunity for National Democrats and Minnesota Democrats.
Ramstad wasn’t on the radar for retirement, it just goes to show how unexpected some of these incoming announcements are going to be.
I’m loving it.
Can I just say, it’s an amazing time to be a Democrat in Minnesota.
Last election we got rid of 2 GOP’ers who hold constitutional offices, got Tim Walz, Amy Klobuchar, 6 new state Senator and 19, yes 19, new DFL’ers in the state house.
Bachmann was of course sad and Pawlenty near squeaker pissed me off but, WOOOOOOOO!!!!
Within one week’s time, one of the top tier challengers in District 6 announces his candidacy to take out Bachmann and Ramstad’s district is easily one of the TOP pick-up opportunities. Only Pryce’s seat is a better pick-up chance.
Hopefully after 2008 we’ll see only John Kline left representing the GOP in Congress and even his district is almost a swing district. 7/8 House and 2/2 Senate, holy crap.
It almost makes me scared, too much dominance leaves us with only place left to go, down…..
but how likely would his seat flip to Democratic?
Andrew sez: Elwyn Tinklenberg is the guy I was talking about. He is a great recruit, a very moderate Democrat, pro-life, anti gay marriage (the district is quite socially conservative) and his war positions are pretty shaky. But, that is the type of Democrat that can win the 6th.
Lloydletta: Actually Tinklenberg is all over the map on social-issue positions. Initially at his first press conference when he announced in 2006, he said he supported the federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Then he’s said he supports civil unions. The thing is that federal constitutional amendment – as written, would ban civil unions as well – on a federal level. Michele Bachmann, his opponent, is known for her single minded zeal pushing a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and legal equivalents – to the point that many people knew of this as the Bachmann amendment. She would say things like gays are after your children, and her husband has a therapy clinic that does pray away the gay therapy. So Bachmann is nationally known among political gay people. If Tinklenberg holds the same position as Bachmann on that issue, there’s no reason to contribute or work for him. Bachmann is an ineffective house member, who is good at campaigning.
Bob Olson is more fiscally conservative than Tinklenberg. I understand that Tinklenberg supports the 5 cent a gallon gas tax promoted by Jim Oberstar. That works in Oberstar’s district, but will be very unpopular in the 6th – and will allow Bachmann to make the campaign about taxes.
The theocrats, and the single issue anti-legal-abortion voters will vote for Michele Bachmann. Cross-over republican voters are pro-choice. Jesse Ventura – who did very well in that district was pro-choice, and had no problem with gay marriage during a debate in 1998.
I’ve been covering the 6th district for quite a while at Dump Michele Bachmann.
….was, like many rural districts, artificially inflated in the last two Presidential elections. The district certainly leans Republican even in a Democratic year, but in every non-Presidential race in recent memory, the margins between the DFL and GOP candidates are much more competitive in MN-07 than MN-06.
What a great opportunity! The Republicans will be replacing a moderate icon like Ramstad with a true-red pro-life conservative as a candidate while the democrats should be able to field an articulate moderate in a democratic year in a blueing district.
Now if we can just avoid blowing it! Please Bill Luther, please Buck Humphrey, don’t run!