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The 8th District


8th District


The largest congressional district in Minnesota, the 8th District, includes Duluth and the Iron Range, plus much of the woods and lake country to the west and south. As the iron and steel industries need fewer and fewer workers, the Iron Range is looking for high-tech and service opportunities to boost the economy. It has been considered safe Democratic territory, but Jesse Ventura carried the 8th District in the 1998 gubernatorial elections with 34 percent of the vote, suggesting the traditional politics on "The Range" may be changing.

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Election Results - 11/7/2000

   US REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 08 TotalsPct 
DFL  JAMES L. OBERSTAR  20921967.79
REPUBLICAN   BOB LEMEN  7980325.86
INDEPENDENT MIKE DARLING  196226.36



The Candidates

James Oberstar James Oberstar
Jim Oberstar was first elected to congress in 1974. Oberstar is the ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Political affiliation: DFL
Born: September 10th, 1934 in Chisholm, MN
Education: Bachelor's Degree in French and Political Science from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, 1956.
Resides: Chisolm
Personal: Married (Jean), 4 children from his marriage to Jo who died in 1991.
E-mail: oberstar@cp.duluth.mn.us
Web site: www.oberstar.org
Campaign contributors: FEC Info


Mike Darling

Political affiliation: Independent
Personal:
Occupation:
Education:
Resides:
E-mail: miked4congress@mn.free.net
Web site:
Campaign contributions:

Bob Lemen Bob Lemen
Lemen has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and as an executive board member of the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped.
Political affiliation: Republican
Personal:Married (Leatha), six children.
Occupation: Writer, computer programmer, compositor, and web designer.
Education: University of Minnesota's North Central School of Agriculture in Grand Rapids
Resides:
E-mail: Lemen2000@usa.net
Web site: www.lemen2000.org
Campaign contributors: FEC Info


S T O R I E S

Close Races Highlight Minnesota's Congressional Ticket
Six incumbents in Minnesota's eight congressional districts won back their seats. The two closest races were in Minnesota's second and sixth districts. In the sixth, voters are sending back Democratic Congressman Bill Luther after he engaged in a tight rematch with Republican challenger John Kline. In the second district, Republican challenger Mark Kennedy won. November 7, 2000
ReadListen

Profile: The 8th District Race
In northeastern Minnesota, voters in the 8th district have returned Jim Oberstar to his House seat 13 times. This year he faces two opponents, because of a battle during the Republican endorsement process that prompted the loser to run as an independent. October 18, 2000 ReadListen