GOP candidates for U.S. Senate special election
Name: Bob Anderson.
Age: 60.
Occupation: Businessman, tradesmen.
Residence: Hastings.
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Why are you running?
1. I’m running because I want to help our President move his America First Agenda Forward. We’ve had two obstructionist U.S. Senators who have forgotten that they represent all Minnesotans. I’m not going to Washington, D.C., for a political career. I’m going there to serve the great people of Minnesota. While traveling our state, I’ve found that the people are tired of manufactured, script-speaking politicians who are all talk and no action. I am a common-sense conservative, and I was thrilled with the election of Donald J. Trump because finally we had someone delivering on their promises. I believe both parties have failed the people, and he has paved the way for great change, for folks like myself to make a difference and take on the establishment that only cares about the party first before the people.
2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
Our nation’s safety and security is a top priority. Government is meant to help protect the people, not run our lives. I appreciate what our president has done with leading from strength, taking measures to secure our border. Here in Minnesota, we need to have a statewide dialogue and pause the refugee resettlement program. I support an audit of the program for what we have done as a compassionate state. We welcome everyone into our country, but folks needs to be vetted properly – chain migration and the lottery system must cease immediately. Opioids addiction is also a major issue in our state. It is vital to make substance use and misuse prevention a much higher priority and to stop the pipeline into addiction. As a mental health advocate, having suffered major clinical depression more than 15 years ago, I’ve had experience firsthand dealing with the stigmas surrounding mental health issues — we should be raising the awareness that addiction it’s not a moral failing, but rather a chronic brain disease. Evidenced-based treatment is available.
3. What makes you best suited for the office?
I’m an outsider. People are tired of the political class, and I’ll actually fight for the people. I do not pander, I do not waiver – I stand on my convictions. There are three major platform promises that set me apart from my Republican opponent: I will accept no pension; I will accept no gold-plated healthcare plan that my constituents don’t have access to – why should elected officials have access to plans that regular folks don’t have access to receive? I will also impose a term-limit; it is so difficult to vote out the entrenched politicians who have been in office for years and bring no real change. There is currently no incentive for real change if politicians aren’t feeling the pain that people are going through. I simply want to bring change to the culture in our elected officials. Donald J. Trump, whether you like him or not, paved the way for people like me. People are tired of the political class and it’s time they have better representation in our elected officials.
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Name: Nikolay Nikolayevich Bey.
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Age: 37.
Occupation: Alinea management.
Residence: St. Paul.
1. Why are you running?
I wonder that myself ... when I entered into this whole senator thing. I was like, I’m going to go in, be a problem-solver. I mean, at work, under management, that’s what I do. I’m good at it... at least that’s what I hear from others. I mean, being a senator, its heavy duty stuff. A lot claim they can do it, but few actually do it as a job. Don’t get me wrong, I am not doubting it for myself, I’m looking at this as, damn …. But this is something where you’re a leader of more than 5.5 million people. If I weren’t running, I’d want that politician who is going to do whatever they can in their mind and body to kick ass and fight for all.
2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
1st. Immigration. 2nd. Abortion. 3rd. Guns.
3. What makes you best suited for the office?
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At the end of the day, what makes me better then other Republicans or Democrats? I am me, myself, and I. What that means is, I don’t have a team, I am not money-based. If you read my blogs, you’ll see where I am coming from. I am just an individual, not an attorney or big boy business man. Sure, I ran a few things here and there, but I am not some famous celebrity most want to vote for.
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Name: Karin Housley.
Age: 54.
Occupation: Realtor, small business owner.
Residence: St. Marys Point.
1. Why are you running?
I am running to be a new voice for Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. The governor’s appointee to the seat, Tina Smith, was part of an administration that failed Minnesotans, and I thought I was the right person to challenge her in this election. Her brand of left-wing obstruction does not fit the people of Minnesota and we need a senator whose top priority is those he or she represents – and I believe I’m the right person for the job.
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2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
We need to ensure fair and free trade to bring certainty to those affected by the tariffs. We need to enforce our existing immigration laws and consider reforming those laws to do the absolute best we can at securing our borders and keeping our communities safe. We need affordable and accessible health care as we recover from the failed Obamacare mandate.
3. What makes you best suited for the office? I have a record of being an independent thinker, working across party lines, and getting things done. In the Minnesota Senate, I have developed a reputation as a passionate, effective legislator, and I want to bring that work ethic to the U.S. Senate. I think it’s more important than ever that we have principled, strong leaders who will do what’s best for the people they represent, and that’s exactly what I’ll do if I am elected.
DFL Candidates for U.S. Senate special election.
Name: Ali Chehem Ali.
Age: 52.
Occupation: SuperValu.
Residence: Shakopee.
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1. Why are you running?
I see so much racial injustice, police militarization that is tearing communities apart. Congress is politically polarized to a fault. Our leaders are playing with nuclear weapons and threats of use like it’s a brinkmanship board game of bluster. I see our climate deteriorating in the next generation and nobody is looking or to be held accountable. War is a perpetual game to the politicians; each one trying to be more menacing than the other. Nobody seems to care about the consequences on our children. We are living in an apartheid oligarchy where the ultra-rich are ‘mopping the floor’ with the middle and lower classes. I want to see more equality. Finally, I want to see a Nuclear Free Zone in the Middle East and the downsizing of nuclear weapons. Something must change.
2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
Nuclear weapons, climate change, perpetual war, healthcare for all, ban assault weapons, racial injustice, sexism, end mass incarceration of people of color and private prisons, get off of fossil fuels and use green energy, LGBTQ equal rights, overturn Citizen’s United, provide equal pay and free education paid for by taxes on the (1) ultra-wealthy (2) corporations and (3) ending wars.
3. What makes you best suited for the office?
I am an ordinary person, without rank or title. I am not a lawyer, a perpetual politician, and am not wealthy. I understand what balancing the home budget means. Having enough food, paying healthcare bills, taxes, worrying from one pay check to the next. I understand what it is to be a black person in the minority. I care about issues and people. Children and education and food. The elderly with Social Security and Healthcare for all. Women and the rights they have over their body, being free from sexual assaults, domestic abuse and sexism. I will not work for or take any money from corporations, rather, work for the people like myself and others.
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Name: Gregg A. Iverson
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Age: 73.
Occupation: Retired.
Residence: South Minneapolis.
1. Why are you running?
The country needs leadership I can give.
2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
Peace. Flat tax. Immigration.
3. What makes you best suited for the office? I have a military background and will work well with others.
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Name: Nick Leonard.
Did not return questionnaire.
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Name: Richard W. Painter
Age: 56.
Occupation: Law professor.
Residence: Mendota Heights.
1. Why are you running?
I have been a vocal critic of Donald Trump since he entered the primary. Since his election, I have made countless appearances on TV programs calling for impeachment hearings to begin regarding his conspiracy with Russian intelligence and his abuse of office for personal gain. Bob Mueller is doing the most he can while Congress sits by and does nothing. There is too much corruption in Washington for critics to stand on the sidelines. I am running for Senate because I want to bring ethical reform to our government and end the corrupt practices that erode trust in our leaders.
2. What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
First, we need to address campaign finance reform. Almost every issue in politics is exacerbated by the influence of PACs and lobbyists. We need to overturn the Citizens United decision and allow Congress to pass sensible campaign finance rules that give citizens their voices back. Next, we need to pass a single-payer Medicare-for-all bill. The ACA was a good start, but there is still a lot of work to do to bring affordable and efficient healthcare to everybody. Single payer is the way to do this. And finally, we need to reinstate the Obama-era environmental protection policies that have been foolishly repealed by Donald Trump and Scott Pruitt. Climate change is real. We need to act to preserve this planet.
3. What makes you best suited for the office?
I have been a leading voice for ethics and accountability for nearly 20 years. I have taught Professional Responsibility and corporate finance law at the University of Minnesota and have written several books calling for campaign finance reform and other ethical changes to our legal code. I served as the chief ethics counsel for the White House and reviewed the finances of the Bush Administration to detect and divest from financial conflicts of interest. I have refused to accept any campaign donations from PACs, Super PACs or dark money organizations. I have built my career on calling out corruption wherever I’ve seen it, and that is the kind of voice we need in Washington right now.
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Name: Christopher Lovell Seymore
Did not fill out questionnaire.
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Name: Tina Smith.
Age: 60.
Occupation: U.S. Senator.
Residence: Minneapolis.
Why are you running?
I am a lifelong progressive, and I work every day in the United States Senate for the people of Minnesota. The best way to do this is by traveling around the state and listening. I’ve found when you really listen, you find that we all want the same thing – Minnesotans want the freedom and opportunity to live the kind of lives that they want to live. To me that means making health care affordable, a diverse economy that works everywhere and making college and opportunities for people who don’t want to go to a four-year college more accessible, just to name a few. I’m committed to working with Minnesotans to find solutions that work in their lives. That’s why I am running to keep this U.S. Senate seat.
What are the nation’s top issues to be addressed?
The number one issue I hear from Minnesotans is rising health care costs, particularly the rising prices of prescription drugs. That’s why the first bill I introduced in the Senate would work to lower the cost of prescription drugs. I believe we also need to create an economy that works for everyone, and that means supporting our growing agricultural economy and vibrant rural communities. I worked on the Senate Agriculture Committee to pass the bipartisan Farm Bill that includes safety nets for farmers, protections for renewable energy and nutrition assistance programs, and funding for rural broadband and beginning farmers. I’ve also introduced a bill to help promote partnerships between local businesses and schools to ensure Minnesotans have the skills they need to fill high-demand jobs.
What makes you best suited for the office?
My promise to Minnesotans is that I will work tirelessly to ensure that their voice is heard in Washington. I will always stand up to policies that harm Minnesotans. But I will also work with anyone – even when we disagree – to improve Minnesotans’ lives, whether that’s lowering health care costs, improving broadband access, protecting pensions or ensuring young people have the skills they need to fill high-demand jobs. This has been my promise ever since I was Lt. Governor, where I made my office in the living room of Minnesotans. Now, in my first six months as senator, I’ve held more than 100 meetings, roundtables and community events in Minnesota’s communities. What I’ve learned is everyone has a story worth hearing, and everyone has a problem worth solving. And that’s what I’m working in the Senate to do.
