Underdog Trina Swanson eyes Rep. Pete Stauber’s seat in a race that’s coming into focus 

WASHINGTON – Trina Swanson came to Washington, D.C., recently looking for help in reaching a formidable goal — the unseating of Republican Rep. Pete Stauber.

Swanson, a Democrat and former federal employee, is the underdog for the Iron Range-based 8^th District congressional seat.

Swanson is campaigning hard in a race that is coming into focus, but she’s hindered by limited campaign funds and by running in a former swing district that has shifted decisively towards the GOP.  

“It’s become such a ‘red’ district,” Hamline University political science professor David Schultz said.  

Elected to Congress in 2018, Stauber has easily won reelection three times with at least 57% of the vote.

Yet Swanson, citing concerns about inflation and the economy, thinks Stauber could lose this time. “People are hurting right now,” she said. “This is ...