8th Congressional District candidates weigh in on the issues (2024)

Two primary rematches are set in this year's 8th Congressional District election. The primaries are set for Aug. 13, with the winning candidates from each party squaring off in the Nov. 5 general election.

The winning candidate in November will represent much of Northeastern Minnesota in the U.S. House.

Contributed / Minnesota Secretary of State

Name: Pete Stauber

Age: 58

City: Hermantown

Occupation: 23-year police officer (retired)

Education: Lake Superior State University, 1990, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice

Public service:

• U.S. Congress
• St. Louis County commissioner
• Hermantown City Council member
• Board member, United Day Activities Center, workforce to help special needs children
• Managed Military Heroes Hockey camp

How do you view the state of the economy in Northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

Joe Biden’s economy is crippling working families. Our costs of living are skyrocketing. Energy prices are through the roof. The American dream of home ownership for young families is virtually unattainable. We need to change course. We must put America first by building a pro- growth economy and enact an all-American energy policy that doesn’t rely on our adversaries. We must become critical mineral dominant by mining those minerals right here at home, generating an economic boom throughout the region, and doing it in an environmentally sound way, with union labor. Mining is part of our past, present and future!

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

As a 23-year police officer, I am proud to be a foremost leader in Congress when it comes to keeping our communities safe. We are clearly at a crossroads in our nation between those defending law and order and standing and supporting our law enforcement, and those who are more interested in sending criminals back to the streets making our communities less safe. Unlike some of my congressional colleagues who continue calling to the defund our law enforcement, I will do all I can to provide our police with the resources needed to keep our communities safe.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

As the father of six beautiful children, including two who were adopted, I believe all life has value and should be protected. However, before we were blessed with our first child, my wife and I struggled to conceive. I support all families who are trying to have a child, whether that’s through natural birth, adoption, foster care or fertility treatment like IVF. I support congressional action on policies that protect the sanctity of life and opportunities for families to grow.

Name: Harry Robb Welty

Age: 73

City: Duluth

Occupation: Retired, writer, perennial political candidate

Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, Minnesota University, Mankato

Public service: Duluth School Board, 1995-2004, 2014-18

How do you view the state of the economy in Northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

The DNT recently pointed out that there are more jobs than applicants in Minnesota but we must plan beyond today. I’ll want federal investment in job training. In Duluth, this will be directed towards education and health care. Furthermore, preserving health care in rural areas will keep them from becoming a new source of displaced refugees. Minnesota’s fresh water must be protected from unregulated mining with its terrible, short-term environmental record. We need to invest in sulfur extraction research from copper/nickel ores, which would echo the quarter-century research into taconite that saved iron mining from depleted iron deposits.

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

Health-wise? Traffic-wise? Public order-wise? I don’t trust the U.S. Supreme Court’s “originalism” in attempting to end the administrative state. Share holders think short term. Their profits wag big business’s tail. This is how it works. Perdue Chicken locked its employees in fire-trap factories to keep them from smoking cigarettes on break. In 1991, a fire at one of their plants killed 25 line workers. They should’ve known better. Eighty years earlier, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire killed 146 women who were similarly locked in. We need to regulate regulation, not enforce it at the whim of companies beholden to investors.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

At my first Minnesota Republican convention in 1972 the party platform was pro-choice. Thirty years later, I was called “a worse mass murderer than Stalin, Mao and Hitler combined at a Republican convention.

The world has changed a lot since Donald Trump pulled a condom out of his pocket on late-night television and shouted “safe sex everyone.” Today, his supporters plan to criminalize the morning-after pill nationwide. President Trump will be backed by a Supreme Court majority, which has excused presidents from obeying the law. This would have astonished our founding fathers. It’s the court that needs a condom.

Name: John Munter

Age: 75

Residence: Warba, Minnesota (near Grand Rapids)

Occupation: Retired from Delta Airlines in Chisholm after 17 years

Education: Graduate Duluth East High School; University of Minnesota Duluth, philosophy; University of Dubuque, Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity

Public service: Co-founder, Minnesota Interfaith Ecology Coalition (now defunct); solely responsible in Line 3 hearings for old Line 3 pipe removal upon owners’ request; gratis monthly opinion piece contributor to the DNT the past two years

How do you view the state of the economy in Northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

Developments with DR ore, helium, our two solar panel manufacturers and Cirrus are exciting but we have a housing crisis. The median price of a home has increased 46% since 2020. If elected, I will work full time on banning Wall Street from flipping homes to rentals (25% in 2023); tax breaks for starter-home manufacturers, including Swedish-style and 3D printed homes; block grants for electricity, sewer, water extension for home sites; 3% no down payment mortgages for first-time homebuyers with good credit scores and a homeowners’ course; and lowering Canadian wood tariffs.

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

The federal government should doing two things for public safety. One is to subsidize business to near shore our supply lines and manufacturing from China to Central America and Mexico to slow migration. We rebuilt Europe after World War II in subsidizing business but also got shares in the businesses. Being dependent upon Chinese slave labor while they threaten Taiwan is not a good idea.

Secondly, we should vastly increase our prison drug treatment programs. It saves money in prisons and lives with fentanyl-contaminated drugs running wild.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

Polling shows Americans favor early abortions but not late abortions. This is the Roe v. Wade position. My opponents and both parties are too extreme on this issue. I personally favor pill abortion and later abortion exceptions but feel that later chemical and surgical abortions are “cruel and unusual punishment.” Of course, I favor contraceptive and IVF freedom. I do favor national legislation along Roe v. Wade lines, otherwise not.

Amanda J. Cane

Name: Jen Schultz

Age: 53

City: Duluth

Occupation: economist and educator

Education: Graduate degree, University of Minnesota

Public service: State legislator, 2015-2022; Great Lakes commissioner, 2015-2022

How do you view the state of the economy in Northeastern Minnesota right now, and what can you do in Congress to support local job growth?

As an economist, I will bring meaningful investments to our region and will focus on fixing our economy, so it works for everyone. I’ll represent working people, not political parties. I’ll help small businesses, work to increase affordable housing and access to health care, and invest in our port, infrastructure and schools — all things businesses need. I’ll work with everyone regardless of party affiliation. I’ll vote for infrastructure bills, and champion policies to bring back and protect domestic manufacturing and responsible mining to create jobs. I’ll strengthen the middle class because it is the foundation of our economy.

What should the federal government be doing to ensure public safety in our communities?

Public safety is about protecting people and communities. I fully support law enforcement and first responders. I strongly oppose defunding the police. I have great respect for first responders and military personnel as my late father was a dedicated firefighter, paramedic and Vietnam veteran. We need to secure our borders humanely. Congress should have passed the bipartisan border bill. We need to address illicit drug use by improving border security and drug surveillance. I will address mental health and homelessness. We need to make sure people have access to basic needs and opportunities to thrive.

Do you support congressional action on abortion, birth control, in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health measures?

Every person should have the right to make their own health decisions with their doctor, not politicians. I support reproductive rights including abortion, access to birth control and IVF treatment. We need to codify these long-held protections into law. Restrictive state laws are jeopardizing women’s lives. In addition to increasing access to healthcare, I will protect Social Security and Medicare. I have a track record of getting things done through being an independent thinker, asking good questions, solving problems and helping people. There is a better way forward where we improve lives by investing in people and in our communities.

This story originally contained an outdated map. It was updated at 4:17 p.m. July 29. The News Tribune regrets the error.