On the Facebook event page for the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party convention in Thief River Falls on Saturday, April 22, there's a listing for a "Congressional Candidate Forum Saturday morning" but no details are provided.
Bluestem has heard from multiple sources that Prinsburg Republican state representative Tim Miller is considering a run for Congress and will be participating in the forum. However, there's nothing in social media or print that confirms that Miller will be part of the forum, despite the rumor of the potential bid, which we are told is widespread at the state capitol.
Incumbent congressman Collin Peterson survived an underfunded campaign by Hughes, who garnered 47.4 percent of the vote. Hughes is running again. The Grand Forks Herald's Sam Easter reported in February in In a Minnesota congressional race, the road to 2018 already has begun:
The 2016 election is just barely over, but David Hughes, a Karlstad, Minn., Republican, said his bid for Congress is just getting started—again.
Hughes, who works for General Atomics at Grand Forks Air Force Base, is a former Air Force officer who campaigned for Minnesota's seventh congressional district, which includes much of the western half of the state. His conservative platform—and what he calls the "Trump bump"—won him about 47.4 percent of the vote. Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson received nearly 52.5 percent.
Hughes said he already is campaigning on social media, making appearances at agricultural expos and soon will head to Washington, D.C., to seek the support of Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.
"I filed right after the election," Hughes said. "I did myself no favor by starting so late. The experience was the sooner the better." . . .
As of March 14, 2017, Miller has not filled to run for the office, according to a search of the candidate and committee database at the Federal Elections Commission.
Miller's profile has been raised this session by his frequent chairing of meetings of the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance Committee while Chair Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, experiences fatigue after a third-party cut his anti-fatigue medicine that is part of his medical care for his MS. An ag lobbyist at the capitol who has worked on a bill with Miller this year cautioned us against underestimating Miller, now in his second term.
We'd left messages with both Miller and Dave Hughes, who is running again after coming closest to knocking out Peterson than any Republican challenger since 1994. Hughes returned our call and confirmed that Miller had told congressional district leaders that Miller intended to participate in the forum.
Since Miller has not formally nor publicly announced a congressional bid, Hughes declined to comment on the potential bid.
We'll have more with this breaking story as leads come our way.
Photo: Minnesota State Representative Tim Miller thanking Congressman Collin Peterson for inviting him to a public pheasant hunting event. Don't underestimate the guy: one day he's your hunting buddy and soon, it's your seat that he's gunning for.
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