Michele Bachmann Will Run in CD-6

[MineralMan]

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2012, 05:27 PM - Edit history (3)

Just announced on WCCO Radio:

The new redistricting maps are out, and the boundaries of CD-4 were expanded to include the current residence of Michele Bachman, the incumbent in CD-6. So, Michele has decided to move so she can run again in the conservative leaning district she now represents. Her decision is probably based mainly on the popularity of current CD-4 incumbent, Betty McCollum, a progressive DFLer who received 60% of the vote in CD-4 in 2010.

CD-4 is located primarily in St. Paul, which is a traditional stronghold for the DFL in Minnesota, and the likelihood would be that Bachmann would lose to Betty McCollum. So, despite having purchased a McMansion in West Lakeland only a couple of years ago, it's time for another move.

This is good news for me, since I won't have to work as hard in the McCollum campaign, and can focus on other candidates in my St. Paul Precinct.

Edit to add: I have been told, and have confirmed, that she doesn't have to move. Congressional candidates can live anywhere in the state they wish. So, she can keep her residence, although doing so would probably cost her a couple of percent of the vote for not living in her district.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Does Minnesota have any type of 'residency within the district' requirement? I

would think the move would have to happen xx days prior to the election.

[MinneapolisMatt]

2. 6 months prior to election

they have to house by May. (approx.)

[Brickbat]

3. That's only for state-level candidates.

Congressional candidates can live anywhere they want to in the state.

[MineralMan]

8. That's apparently correct. Well, that makes it easy for her.

As long as she stays out of my district...

[MineralMan]

6. Bachmann has an apartment in Anoka, already,

along with the house in W. Lakeland. So, it's not a big deal for her. She'll just move some junk in there, stay there just enough to establish residency, and change her address on her DL and voter registration.

[qb]

4. Hopping borders like a scared rabbit.

[izquierdista]

9. You're mixing metaphors

Flying to another roost like a bat with an owl on her tail.

[Brickbat]

5. Strib says she hasn't decided whether she'll move, and she doesn't have to.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, her current residence is firmly in CD-4 now,

so she'd definitely have to establish residence in CD-6. She's supposed to be on WCCO soon, or maybe already has. I haven't been listening steadily.

She does have an apartment in Anoka, though, which is in CD-6, so residence isn't that big a deal for her to set up.

Ah, looking at the Strib article:

"Members of Congress don't have to live in the district they represent, so Bachmann is free to run wherever she likes in Minnesota. She said she has not yet decided if she will move her home into the new district."

Interesting. I did not know that. Well I'm glad she's not going to run in my district anyhow.

[Proud Public Servant]

10. Question for you, MineralMan

Since you're clearly in the know: does the redrawn CD-4 hold any possibility that MB could be knocked off, either through a primary challenge or (less likely, I'm sure) in a general election?

[MineralMan]

12. Bachmann held on to her metro area strongholds, but

lost Woodbury, which was also strong for her. She kept the northern ring suburbs and St. Cloud. Those held most of the population of her CD-6 district prior to the redistricting. Woodbury, on the other hand, which was in an extension of the district, has grown wildly since the 2002 maps were drawn, and played a big role in her wins in CD-6, especially in 2008 and 2010. It's gone for her, now, and will be overwhelmed by the densely populated St. Paul area in 2012, so CD-4 will almost certainly stay Democratic.

Bachmann's problem is going to be her long, long neglect of her district and the general discontent of the electorate. If a strong DFL candidate runs, she could easily lose. CD-6 was +9 Republican in 2010. But, she's lost a big population center that was +15 or more Republican, and that may narrow the margin if a strong candidate from the northern suburban ring runs. I don't know who that will be yet.

I don't think she'll have a strong primary challenger, but there may be a strong DFL challenger in that district, probably a current state senator or someone else with good name recognition in Anoka County. I'm hopeful, but we'll all have to wait and see what develops. It's not my district, so I pay less attention to it than mine, but I'm going to watch. If a good candidate emerges, I may devote some time to that campaign.

[Proud Public Servant]

14. Very interesting. Thanks! [n/t]

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Same crap,different year.

If memory serves,this is her second Rodeo on Region 6 housing. Isn't this how she was able to dump Luther? This I know,will be door knocking in B.P. and Anoka,for the DFLer running against her this summer.

Time to take out this sad piece of garbage,this is what happens when you let the church ladies get control of your districts.

[MineralMan]

13. The big question is who's going to run as the DFL candidate for

that seat. Tarryl Clark seems to have committed to running against Cravaak, although she hasn't been doing well in early polling. I'm afraid I don't know that district well enough to know who might be a strong candidate. I'm just glad she's going to run in CD-6 and not 4. Betty McCollum would beat her, but the campaign would be a lot tougher.

[dflprincess]

15. I think it was Mark Kennedy who took out Luther

This was 10 years ago after the lines in the 6th district were redrawn and made more Republican. Luther decided to run in the 2nd district which did include a chunk of his old district. Then Kennedy, after going down in flames to Klobuchar, was replaced by John Kline.

[ISUGRADIA]

16. Correction

Minge lost to Kennedy in 2000, Bachmann replaced Kennedy in 2006.

Luther moved to the 2nd to avoid a race with Kennedy and lost to Kline in 2002.

[dflprincess]

18. As Maurice Chevalier once sang

"Ah yes, I remember it well."

Thanks

[riverwalker]

17. anxiously waiting

for a Bachmann DFL opponant to announce to work my butt off for whoever it is. Clark and Tinklenberg didn't succeed, but I think Bachmann is more vulnerable this round. I am in the 6th.