U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan of Crosby now has a formal challenger in the 2014 race for 8th District Congress. Mills Fleet Farm Vice President Stewart Mills III of Nisswa made that announcement Thursday at events in Cloquet and Rush City.
Mills said the following in a prepared statement:
I have seen first-hand how overreaching government policies affect Minnesota families. I'm running for Congress because I want to roll up my sleeves and make sure that our government is working for us, not stifling our local job creators and the American dream.
The current government shutdown and impasse in Congress is the perfect example of why Washington needs fresh voices and perspectives to move our country forward. Our government needs to work harder to make sure that no matter what the disagreement, our social contracts are being met, like those to our seniors and veterans. This partisan squabbling is unacceptable.
Mills launched his formal bid to unseat the DFL incumbent at businesses near the Duluth and Twin Cities media that cover the sprawling 8th congressional district, but Friends of Stewart Mills campaign coordinator Isaac Shultz was quick to point out that Mills has recently been to Hoyt Lakes and other cities on the Range.
"Mills enjoyed his visits to the Iron Range and looks forward to going back up there soon," Schultz said, adding "he's excited about the opportunities that PolyMet and Twin Metals offer to Rangers and wants to be of assistance in any way he can."
DFL Party Chair Ken Martin released a statement Thursday blasting Mills as being out of touch with "Minnesotans" and "utterly unqualified to take on the job of U.S. Congressman":
In announcing he is running for Congress, Stewart Mills III lined up with the extreme Republicans who put thousands of Americans out of work with their senseless government shutdown. Mills III is another Tea Party extremist who would rather hold our nationâs economy hostage to promote a radical agenda rather than solve problems to grow the middle class.
You only get one time to make a first impression, and out of the gate Mills III demonstrated just how out of touch he is with Minnesotans. The last thing Washington needs is another hyper-partisan, uncompromising Tea Partier like Michele Bachmann or Ted Cruz who is long on rhetoric and short on substance. Itâs obvious that he is utterly unqualified to take on the job of U.S. Congressman and that he represents exactly what this country is running away from.
Schultz had this to say in response to Martin's harsh statement:
Stewart Mills is focused on reaching out to voters and discussing the stunning failure of partisan leaders in Washington DC. Instead of reaching commonsense solutions that help grow our economy and reduce the burden of government on working families, Washington insiders are bickering over partisan ideologies.
In June, Mills' potential candidacy caught the eye of CQ Roll Call, which noted a "
Brad Pitt kind of appeal" and we noted the Crow Wing county native could pose a
serious challenge to Rep. Nolan. Mills' decision later that month to launch an exploratory campaign prompted a
ratings change in the race, which
The Rothenberg Political Report currently rates as a Lean Democrat.
The Nolan campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Mills' formal entry into the race.
Cross-posted from Iron Country Free Press