Opinion editor’s note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
As voters in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District prepare to cast their ballots, it’s clear that the outcome of this election could have a profound impact — not only for the district but potentially for the nation.
With the departure of Democrat Dean Phillips, who is leaving Congress after an unsuccessful primary challenge to President Joe Biden, the race for this open seat has drawn considerable attention as the only Minnesota congressional district not fielding an incumbent. Voters face a pivotal choice between Republican Tad Jude, 72, of Maple Grove, and Democrat Kelly Morrison, 55, of Wayzata. The outcome could help determine which party controls the U.S. House.
To assist voters in studying the candidates, the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board offers an analysis of salient issues that both Morrison and Jude have identified as important to the Third District; these are also issues that resonate with extreme importance to the welfare and prosperity of Minnesota as a whole.
The Third District is geographically and economically diverse, encompassing urban, suburban and rural areas, which makes its voters’ concerns broad but frequently interconnected. With inflation still weighing on households, voters are understandably looking for a representative who can address cost-of-living issues and support economic stability for families and small businesses alike. Both candidates have emphasized their familiarity with these pressures, but voters will need to decide whom they trust most to help strengthen the district’s economy.
Affordable housing, for instance, is a growing concern in many parts of the district, particularly in the suburban areas. Homeownership and even rent are out of reach for some residents. Voters are keenly aware of the need for workable, bipartisan solutions that balance market dynamics with policies that enable lower-income families to also pursue dreams of homeownership.
Morrison supports a bill that would block hedge funds from buying single-family houses and would require those funds to sell off their houses to families. Jude supports tax credits and other incentives to subsidize construction of new homes.
