Rep. Ramstad puts another swing district up for grabs

Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) announced Monday that he will not run for a 10th term in the House. He becomes the sixth Republican House member to retire this cycle and leaves an open seat in a bona fide swing district.

{mosads}Speaking to the press in his district, Ramstad said he wants to spend more time living life outside of Congress and pledged to increase the amount of time he spends working on mental health and substance abuse issues, particularly with young people.

“After 17 years of getting on the plane every Monday and not coming back until Friday, I’m burned out, I’m tired,” Ramstad said. “I still have the passion for policymaking, and I still have the passion for politics, but I want to be home.”

Ramstad’s retirement ranks as one of the bigger surprises of the cycle. Despite his 17 years in Congress, Ramstad is just 61.

A former state senator, he was forced to cede the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee when the Democrats took power following the 2006 election.

Ramstad, who has built a centrist voting record during his tenure, has spent much of the new Congress voting with his Democratic colleagues on key issues. He was one of 17 GOPers to vote against the troop increase in Iraq and one of 24 to vote to allow the government to negotiate prescription prices with drug companies.

On Monday, he offered criticism of the White House for not adhering to the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group.

“That’s not the way the administration is moving, unfortunately,” Ramstad said. “This isn’t going to be won militarily.”

Ramstad is known on Capitol Hill for his work on economics and crime issues. He has served as chairman of the House Law Enforcement Caucus and authored several crime bills that became law.

A recovering alcoholic who quit drinking 25 years ago, Ramstad has helped several other members deal with substance abuse, including Rep. Patrick Kennedy after the Rhode Island Democrat crashed his car into a security barrier on the Capitol grounds last year.

He and Kennedy have worked on a bill to increase access to mental health and addiction treatment, and he said he expects the bill to pass
Ramstad’s suburban Minneapolis district has trended Democratic during his time in office and voted narrowly for President Bush in 2004. While he carried it with ease, including with 65 percent in 2006, it figures to be a battleground next year.

Recognizing the “wide-open” nature of his district, Ramstad said he felt compelled to announce his retirement early enough to allow the candidates to organize their campaigns.

He said he hopes his successor continues to represent the district in a bipartisan way.

Among the Republicans being mentioned as possible candidates are Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele, state Rep. Erik Paulsen, and state Sens. David Hann and Geoff Michel.

Democrats being talked about include longtime state legislator Steve Kelley, 2006 lieutenant governor nominee Judi Dutcher, state Sen. Terri Bonoff and 2006 Hennepin County attorney candidate Andy Luger.

Upon Ramstad’s announcement, Democrats were quick to praise their Republican colleague.

“All Minnesotans can be grateful for Rep. Ramstad’s relentless advocacy with regard to alcoholism and addiction issues and his tireless work for mental-health parity,” state Democratic party chairman Brian Melendez said. “In these fields, he leaves an important legacy.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said: “Jim Ramstad is a person of great integrity who always does what he thinks is right for his constituents rather than simply following the party line.”

Ramstad is preceded in retirement by Republican Reps. Dennis Hastert (Ill.), Ray LaHood (Ill.), Chip Pickering (Miss.), Deborah Pryce (Ohio) and Rick Renzi (Ariz.).

Republicans will also have an open seat in Ohio’s 5th district, whose congressman, Rep. Paul Gillmor (R), died earlier this month, and likely in Virginia’s 11th district, where Rep. Tom Davis (R) is expected to run for Senate.

Senate GOPers are also dealing with retirements in Colorado, Nebraska, Virginia and probably Idaho, depending on how Sen. Larry Craig’s appeal of a guilty plea in a sex sting turns out.

In 2006, Democrat Tim Walz defeated Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) in Minnesota’s 1st district, and Democrats easily defended their Senate seat after the retirement of Sen. Mark Dayton (D). Republicans successfully defended a seat in the 6th district when Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) ran for Senate.

Republicans recognize the battle ahead but are confident they will retain the seat.

“A Republican has represented Minnesota’s third district for 45 years, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon,” said a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Ken Spain.

Ramstad’s retirement continues a wholesale turnover in the Minnesota delegation. Five of the state’s 10 members of Congress are in their first terms, and besides Ramstad, only powerful House chairmen Jim Oberstar and Collin Peterson were in office in the year 2000.