Minnesota: Klobuchar Draws Challenge

Thought to be one of the safest incumbents seeking re-election in 2018, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) drew her first prominent potential general election opponent over the weekend.  Three term-Rep. Jim Newberger (R), who has averaged 63.7% of the vote in three elections from his rural central Minnesota state House district, announced that he will challenge the two-term incumbent.  There is certainly a major resource gap to begin this campaign.  Sen. Klobuchar reports a cash-on-hand total of $4.3 million at the end of June.  Rep. Newberger spent a total of just $14,000 on his 2016 victorious re-election campaign.  Though Minnesota appears to becoming more competitive as Republicans attempt to build upon their viable 2016 election showing, Sen. Klobuchar is in strong political shape and well positioned to win a third term next year.

--Jim Ellis