REGIONAL— The Eighth Congressional District’s largest newspaper has parted ways with Rep. Pete Stauber, endorsing his DFL opponent Jen Schultz, in the hotly-contested race.
The Duluth News-Tribune, part of conservative-leaning Forum Communications, had endorsed Stauber in his two previous races for the seat he’s held since 2018, but the newspaper parted company with the congressman over his increasingly partisan approach in Washington and his lack of responsiveness to his constituents.
“Stauber is no longer the same devoted representative Northeastern Minnesota first sent to D.C. on our behalf in 2018,” wrote the News-Tribune in its earlier this month. “He’s become unresponsive to constituents and the media alike. He seems to only attend events populated by supporters.”
In Congress, the paper wrote, “Stauber’s votes increasingly have become partisan rather than what’s in the best interest of Minnesota and his constituents. He voted against lowering pharmaceutical and insulin costs, against an independent investigation of Jan. 6, against equal pay, and against grants to make needed repairs to regional airports, as just a few examples. Despite voting against the airport grants, he attempted to publicly tout them anyway.”
The newspaper noted that Stauber declined to participate in the candidate forum that the newspaper has co-hosted with the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce for years. He was the first candidate ever to decline to participate and he even declined to sit for a traditional editorial board interview with the candidates.
Meanwhile, the paper was highly complementary of Stauber’s opponent, state Rep. Jen Schultz, touting her bipartisan success in the Legislature. “This year, while not much was reaching the finish line in St. Paul, Schultz was key in passing a bipartisan human services and policy bill that included investments to help those with mental health challenges and drug addictions. She also pushed for the passage of a bipartisan mental health standalone bill that included $100 million in badly needed spending,” noted the News-Tribune.
“A year ago, as just another example, her advocacy was key in the approval of a bipartisan omnibus bill that directed $700 million in federal relief for things like public health, drug abuse, mental health, homelessness, and public safety,” noted the newspaper, which serves the Eighth District’s largest city. “Perhaps no legislation was more important during her four terms than the 2019 law to begin the state licensing of assisted-living facilities. Schultz helped carry the cause in the DFL House while Republican Sen. Karin Housley of Stillwater led the way in the Senate, producing a bill that created needed oversight and helped end years of horrific reports of abuse and inadequate care at far too many senior homes.”