Who's In the Race

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) faces Democrat Trina Swanson in Minnesota's 8th District on Nov. 3. ​

Stauber has represented the district since 2019 and previously served as a St. Louis County commissioner, a Hermantown city councilor, and a Duluth police officer for more than two decades. He won the Aug. 11 Republican primary with about 87 percent of the vote.

Swanson is a former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official who campaigns on issues affecting northern and central Minnesota. She won the Aug. 11 Democratic primary with 54,413 votes.

What They Stand For

Stauber has supported expanding mining and other development of domestic natural resources, according to his official House website, which highlights his efforts to advance mining in northeastern Minnesota. He has also supported:

  • A career in law enforcement and public service spanning more than two decades, per his House biography.

Swanson has proposed universal healthcare, saying on her campaign website, "Most importantly, affordable and accessible healthcare means universal healthcare." She has also supported:

  • Mining with environmental protections, while opposing mining in the Boundary Waters watershed;
  • Her opposition to Boundary Waters watershed mining stems from concerns that it would rely heavily on automation and outside consultants, limiting direct benefits to local communities, according to her campaign website; and
  • Campaigning on issues affecting northern and central Minnesota, according to her campaign.

The Money Behind the Race

Through July 22, Pete Stauber had raised about $2 million and had about $1.2 million in the bank, more than 13 times the cash on hand of Trina Swanson, who had raised about $317,000 and had about $90,000 on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Outside spending in the race has been minimal: the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party spent about $555 opposing Stauber, the only completed outside expenditure on record in the race. That total falls well below the $10,000 threshold that would make outside spending a meaningful factor here.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Stauber, an 87.25% chance of winning as of Oct. 14, with Democrats, whose nominee is Swanson, at 12.75%.

Stauber carried the district with about 57% in 2022 and about 58% in 2024. Statewide, Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats split evenly, four to four between Democrats and Republicans, in both 2022 and 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried Minnesota with about 51% of the vote.

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