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Now that the dust has settled on one of the most contentious primary races in Minnesota Republican history, the campaign ahead for the 1st District seat in Congress will certainly offer very different options.
Republican challenger Allen Quist makes no bones about his “far right” conservative credentials. And while Quist still holds the social issue views of that rightward position, he no longer appears to be emphasizing them, saying his campaign will be focused on reducing the federal debt and deficit and getting spending under control.
He says he would have voted against the farm bill currently in the House and Senate that had bipartisan support. He wants to break up the coalition of rural and urban legislators who support farm subsidies and food stamps.
Yet, Quist has some positions on the deficit in contrast to some of his own party. He, unlike new vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, thinks we can cut military spending, and isn’t automatically for tax cuts if they increase the deficit.
In a populist vein, he said he opposes corporate welfare, including the auto company bailout and subsidies for government lending agencies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
He holds many other traditional Republican views including opposition to health care reform and opposition to current energy policies of the Obama administration.
Walz holds many traditional Democratic ideas, supported the health care reform and a number of other democratic initiatives. He was however, rated by various organizations as a more moderate member of the Democratic party. In a recent analysis by the Washington Post and MinnPost, Walz was seen as the Minnesota member of Congress who voted with his party the second least of all members, while still voting with Democrats about 88 percent of the time.
Walz broke rank with Democrats in extending the Bush era tax cuts and he voted for a Republican bill that would lower interest rates on student loans. He voted with Republicans to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for not providing information on the controversial “Fast and Furious” arms program.
So Walz and Quist will be beginning a campaign where voters will have to look beyond their party affiliation to determine where the candidates stand.
The diverse 1st District with its sprawling farm fields, regional cities and small towns and huge institutions like Mayo Clinic is significantly affected by federal policies from the farm bill to health care reform.
Quist and Walz are not likely to shy away from the tough questions, and the campaign appears to be headed for a serious discussion of the issues, not the personal clashes that raised their ugly head in the Quist-Parry race.
Quist argues he can have more influence on the issues of the 1st District and federal spending by being in the majority in the House and part of a Republican study group focused on deficit reduction.
Walz has touted a record of getting things done for the district in the area of veterans issues, prohibiting congressional insider trading and the farm bill. He often points out his bipartisan efforts.
The 1st District race will be one to watch. There will likely be a robust discussion of issues that matter.
Editorials
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cartoon 8-17
August 16, 2012
Our View: 1st District race offers real choice
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