Potential CD7 Peterson challenger Scott Van Binsbergen is so not a "political novice"

by Sally Jo Sorensen

Bluestem admires Politics in Minnesota's Mike Mullen's work; usually he's a dogged researcher and a solid writer. "Milk Money," which he co-authre

But in his latest article Peterson challengers watch and wait, Mullen reports:

Byberg, Peterson’s electoral foe in the 2012 and 2010, has said he is still thinking about whether to pursue a rematch next year, despite failing to reach 40 percent in either of the last two contests. The only other possible entrant who has publicly stated his interest is Scott Van Binsbergen, a Montevideo real estate agent and political novice.

Um, no.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) might want folks to think Van Binbergen is a fresh new face as it fleeces its donors lists, but Scott Van Binsbergen is no political novice. He's a former congressional aide who has two unsuccessful runs for the Minnesota legislature under his belt.

In July, Bluestem reported in Two-time loser may challenge Collin Peterson:

Roll Call reports in Minnesota Businessman Eyes Peterson Challenge #MN07:

Scott Van Binsbergen, a Minnesota businessman and former staffer for retired Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn., confirmed to CQ Roll Call on Wednesday that he is eyeing a bid against Rep. Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., in the 7th District.

Van Binsbergen said in a phone interview that he didn’t have a timeline for his decision but said he has met with the National Republican Congressional Committee, as well as delegates from the Minnesota Republican Party, as he considers the race.

“I’m extremely interested,” said Van Binsbergen, who in 2006 ran an unsuccessful bid for state House in Minnesota. “I’ve been out meeting with delegates and political people from around the district and around the state, but I haven’t put a timeline on [an announcement].” . . .

. . . On November 3, 1994, the Star Tribune reported that Arne Carlson promoted Van Binsbergen's candidacy in a campaign stop:

Carlson promoted Scott Van Binsbergen, a 25-year-old insurance agent in Montevideo, in the western part of the state. Van Binsbergen is trying to knock off Rep. Doug Peterson, a second-term DFLer from Madison.

"Having the ratings [Carlson] has going into the election, I'm really pleased [with] the top of the ticket," Van Binsbergen said.

Carlson was almost a political pariah in his own party when he lost the endorsing contest to Allen Quist. Since his strong primary win, however, he's become sought-after by other IR candidates, and has maintained his lead over Marty in public opinion polls. (Robert Whereatt, Carlson reconsiders death penalty stance, Nexis All-News, accessed July 24, 2013)

[Doug] Peterson defeated the then-young businessman in 1994 (page 15) with a 7848 to 6742 split, with the challenger winning Chippewa County.

This wasn't repeated on his second bid slightly more than a decade later Koenen defeated Van Binsbergen in 2006 by taking 57.07 percent of the vote; the Republican businessman lost in his hometown of Montevideo, taking only one township in Chippewa County and a handful of precincts in the entire district. The vote was closest in Renville County, where Van Binsbergen still lost.

Searching the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure records, Bluestem found that Van Binsbergen gave $447.94 to his own campaign in 2006 and $137.50 to former Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert's unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2009. No large contributions are listed for federal candidates in the Federal Election Commission's database.

In April, the Star Tribune reported in Republicans make U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson an early target that Van Binsbergen had formed an exploratory committee for the race but hadn't committed yet to running. No paperwork for Binsbergen is yet online with the FEC.