Western, central and northern Minnesota under windy, dry weather conditions 

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

State Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, has officially launched the 6th district congressional campaign that she started last summer.

She held a kickoff event today at the State Capitol. Clark is out to unseat Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in the fall, but first she'll have to win a DFL primary. The other DFL candidate, Maureen Reed, claims she has a better chance to attract 6th district independent voters. But Clark disagreed.

"I'm the one that's in office," Clark said. " And I've proven that you can win in a tough district where you have to bring Democrats, Republicans and independents together. And that's what we've done time over time."

Clark didn't want to talk about Reed. She said her attention is on Bachmann, who Clark claims isn't fighting for the 6th district.

"While I eliminated my own office mailing budget, she spent more than $100,000 on taxpayer funded mailings, more than any other representative in Minnesota, to send self-promoting mail to people who don't even live in the district, who don't even live in the state," Calrk said.

A state Republican party official said Clark has been on the wrong side of every tax and spending issue in the Legislature. And he claimed Bachmann is the clear favorite to win a third term.

We'll have video of the Clark event once it's converted.

Maureen Reed's campaign manager, Jason Isaacson, responded to the Clark announcement with this statement:

We also heard from Bachmann spokesman Dave Dziok, who refuted Clark's allegation about the mailing costs:

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tim Pugmire

Author

DFLer says she's focused on Bachmann, not Reed.

Clark kicks off 6th district campaign

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox