MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time since 2008, there will be no incumbent on the ballot in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. And that will surely draw many into the quest for a spot in the US House.
Democratic National Committee member Ron Harris was the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring, followed by Minnesota Sen. Kelly Morrison of Deep Haven. They both had originally planned to mount primary challenges against incumbent Democrat Dean Phillips, who is currently running for president.
But Rep. Phillips announced last Friday he's not seeking reelection to his seat in Congress. That's expected to prompt more candidates from all parties to run in that district, which is centered in the western part of the Twin Cities metro area.
"As Dean weighed whether to run for president so much focus around this wasn't on the district at all, and I wanted to make sure that no matter what happened at the end of November next year that this seat was safely in Democratic hands," Harris told KARE.
Harris has worked as a community organizer, and most recently as the chief resilience officer for the City of Minneapolis helping plan for that city's future in the face of predicted climate change and other factors that will challenge our nation's urban cores.
"Growing up in a single-parent home I saw the realities of when parents have to make a hard choice between taking care of their loved one and missing out on a paycheck," Harris explained.
"I had pneumonia at two months old. My mom had to make the hard choice between staying home to take care of me and missing out on a paycheck, or going to work to make sure we could get the bills paid. She chose to take care of me, and not only did she miss out on paycheck, she got fired as a result."
Sen. Morrison expressed similar sentiments about running against her fellow Democrat Phillips.
"When Dean turned to run for president, I became really concerned about making sure we had the best possible representation here in the 3rd District," Morrison explained.
"And I think I bring a unique perspective to this role. I’ve spent most of my career as doctor, not a politician."
She's an OB-GYN who spent four years in the Minnesota House before being elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2022. Much of her focus has been on healthcare and protecting the rights of patients.
"I helped lead the fight to protect women’s rights to make their own healthcare decisions. And in my work as doctor, I see my patients struggle to afford the medications they need, so I took on big Pharma a passed bills that will help lower the cost of prescription drugs here in Minnesota."
Before Phillips flipped CD3 from red to blue in 2018 Republicans had held that seat for 58 years, even as it began to trend toward Democrats in presidential races. Republicans see Phillips' exit as a chance to flip it back into the GOP column, but no Republicans have formally announced campaigns yet.
Access to abortion in the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v Wade was a major factor in the 2022 race, and may expect it to remain a large issue in the 2024 election cycle.
"I think we saw in recent elections in Ohio and Kentucky and Virginia people really care about this issue regardless of their political affiliation they want to be able to make their own healthcare decisions and most people believe abortion should be legal," Morrison said.
Harris also said he would oppose any effort in Congress to pass a national ban on abortion, something favored by many Republicans.
"When they say they want a federal ban, they’re not just saying that to get votes. They’re that with intention. That’s exactly what they want to do. My mother used to tell me all the time, 'When people show you who they are, you need to believe them.' And I believe that’s what they want to do."
Both candidates expressed a desire to move Congress away from the partisan stalemate that has characterized that body for many years now.
"If you look at what’s happening in Congress right now it is a broken institution, but it is the heart of American democracy and we can’t give up on it," Morrison asserted. "We’ve got to send people to Congress who believe in our system and wanting to make government work."
Harris says he wants to break through the wall of cynicism about national politics.
"I was inspired by Barack Obama’s run 15 years ago, and that election night sent me on a trajectory, a 15-year trajectory of public service, civic participation. I want to do something similar for the folks in my community to see that participating in politics is worth our time."
Harris currently lives one mile outside of the district but has assured supporters he plans to move into CD3 before the election.
"I grew up in Coon Rapids. I do everything there. My doctor’s still there. This is where I work out. But more important than being connected to the geography, I’m connected to the people. I still having a lot of those relationships."