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4th District
Congressman Bruce Vento did not seek re-election because of his battle with cancer. His decision not to run, coupled with changing demographics in the district, as well as urban sprawl, made the race one of the most interesting campaigns of the season. The fourth district includes Saint Paul's East Side as well as several inner-ring suburbs.

Stories

Election Results - 11/7/2000

  US REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 04 TotalsPct 
CONSTITUTION  NICHOLAS SKRIVANEK  12850.47
INDEPENDENCE  TOM FOLEY  5589420.60
DFL  BETTY MCCOLLUM  13037448.04
REPUBLICAN   LINDA RUNBECK  8383630.89



The Candidates

Linda Runbeck Linda Runbeck
Political affiliation: Republican. First elected to Minnesota House of Representatives in 1989. Elected State Senator, 1993.
Born:1946
Resides:Circle Pines
Personal:Married (Richard). One daughter.
Occupation: Co-owner, Braham Monument Company.
Education: Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis. Bethel College (B.A. degree in Sociology).
Web site: www.runbeckforcongress.org
E-mail: runbeck@hotmail.com
Campaign contributions: FEC Info

Click for audio Listen to Runbeck

Betty McCollum Betty McCollum
Political affiliation: DFL. First elected to Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992.
Born: 1954, Minneapolis. Raised primarily in South Saint Paul.
Personal: Married (Douglas). Two children.
Occupation: Legislator. Former teacher.
Education:Inver Hills Community College, College of St. Catherine (B.S. in Education).
Resides:North Saint Paul
Web site:www.mccollumforcongress.org
E-mail:betty@mccollumforcongress.org
Campaign contributions: FEC Info

Tom Foley Tom Foley
Political affiliation: Independence Party. Served four terms as Ramsey County Attorney. Was director of the Washington D.C. office of Gov. Jesse Ventura. Born:
Personal: Two children.
Occupation: Attorney.
Education:Catholic High School, Wabasha; Minnesota University of Minnesota (Bachelors and Law degrees).
Resides:
Web site:www.foleyforcongress.com/
E-mail:TFoley@foleyforcongress.com
Campaign contributions: FEC Info



Story Archive:
McCollum Elected to Congress
Minnesota's fourth congressional district is staying in Democratic hands with Betty McCollum's victory over Republican Linda Runbeck and the Independence Party's Tom Foley. McCollum is only the second woman in state history to be elected to Congress and the first in more than 40 years. November 7, 2000
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Stadium Issue Enters 4th District Race
The candidates for Minnesota's 4th congressional district seat sparred during their first public debate since the primary. The hottest topic was funding for sports stadiums, despite the fact that it's not a federal issue. October 12, 2000
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DFL Rift Overshadows Congressional Race
Betty McCollum, Linda Runbeck, and Tom Foley have advanced to the November general election in the race to succeed retiring Fourth District Congressman Bruce Vento. DFL endorsee McCollum won a hotly contested primary last night. But a couple of her party rivals are upset about negative campaigning in the primary and are not sure they'll work for McCollum. Republican and Independence Party candidates see the DFL rift as a chance to take a seat the Democrats have held for 52 years.
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Ad Watch: The Fourth District Race
The Fourth District Congressional candidates are competing for voters' attention in a campaign that's largely been dominated by the big-money Senate candidate ad buys. 9/6/2000
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Fourth District Candidates Debate at State Fair
Candidates vying to succeed Bruce Vento in Congress debated on Minnesota Public Radio. The race is developing into the state's hottest contest. 8/31/2000
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Fourth District Candidates Hold Forum
The four DFLers seeking to succeed Bruce Vento in Congress jockeyed for position at a candidates forum in Oakdale on July 18th. The winner of the September 12th primary will move into a general election race expected to include Republican state Senator Linda Runbeck and Independence Party candidate Pam Ellison. 7/18/2000
Listen

Holiday Puts Spark in Fourth District Race
Campaigning picks up as the official start of the campaign season begins. Candidates are now asking voters for their votes with equal fervor as they asked for their money. 7/4/2000
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Candidate Profile: Pam Ellison
Two years ago, Jesse Ventura took the political establishment by surprise, defeating two well-known politicians with a campaign that was heavy on blunt talk and short on money. The governor's former volunteer coordinator is hoping to do the same this year in the Fourth Congressional District, which includes St. Paul and surrounding suburbs. Pam Ellison of St. Paul, endorsed by the Independence Party to run for retiring Congressman Bruce Vento's seat, is banking on the district's block of independent voters. But Ellison doesn't have two of the governor's advantages: the name Jesse Ventura and state campaign funding. 6/23/2000
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Fourth District DFLers Debate
Incumbents are seeking re-election in seven of Minnesota's eight congressional districts this year. The exception is in the Fourth District, where Bruce Vento's retirement creates an open seat. The district, which includes Saint Paul and its closest suburbs, has been in Democratic hands since 1948. The four candidates running in September's DFL primary gathered on June 1 for a debate sponsored by the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. 6/1/2000
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McCollum Gets Early Boost in Fourth District Race
State Representative Betty McCollum of North St. Paul won the endorsement last weekend for the Fourth Congressional District race against Republican State Senator Linda Runbeck. But the DFL campaign to replace retiring Congressman Bruce Vento is just beginning. Three other DFLers are considering running against McCollum in a September primary. McCollum will try to persuade the other candidates to drop their bids against her in the name of party unity. But even if she were to succeed, the Fourth District race is shaping up to be a tough, expensive fight. 5/8/2000
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The Sleeper Race
The race to succeed Bruce Vento in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District could provide a new snapshot of the political base of Minnesota. Some political wags say changing demographics and urban sprawl have put the Republican Party in a good position to take over a DFL stronghold. April 28, 2000
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