Eric Pratt announces congressional run

Eric Pratt, the 4-term Republican state senator representing Prior Lake, just announced that he's running for the open House seat being vacated by Rep. Angie Craig. This isa the biggest news for Minnesota's congressional delegation this cycle. A loyal reader of this blog told me that Sen. Pratt's district has turned a little more purple, which isn't difficult to picture. This reader said that this will likely be the hottest congressional race in Minnesota this year.

Since I started voting in 1974, Minnesota's congressional delegation has either been evenly divided or had a DFL majority. If Pratt can flip the CD-2 seat, that'd likely mean a GOP majority in Minnesota's congressional delegation for the first time in literally a couple generations.

I'd think that this race will have lots of money thrown at it from the NRCC and DCCC. That's before starting the conversation on PACs and dark money. This should guarantee high voter turnout statewide and in CD-2.

State Sen. Eric Pratt announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for Congress in Minnesota’s Second District.

"This campaign is about putting families first. The people of the Second District deserve a representative who listens, understands their challenges, and delivers real results," said Pratt, who is in his fourth term in the Minnesota Senate and represents the Prior Lake area.

Then there's this:

"President Trump is making strides and bringing energy back to our economy, but families in CD2 still need someone who can win in November to keep that momentum going. This open seat is critical, and it’s going to take a Republican in Congress who will fight to deliver real relief where it’s needed most," Pratt said.

He highlighted his business experience and past work as chair of the Prior Lake-Savage School Board, where he "helped turn a $1 million deficit into a $3 million surplus, raised student performance, and cut property taxes."

As a state senator, Pratt said his focus has been on balancing budgets, expanding childcare access, improving public education, and supporting small businesses. "I’m not interested in political theater. I’m interested in getting the work done," Pratt added. "This is a campaign about service. I’m ready to fight for the people who go to work every day, raise their families, and just want a fair shot."

The America First agenda is built upon the premised on action, not words and fixing things, not working on things. Based on Sen. Pratt's statement, backed by his record, it sounds like Sen. Pratt is an America First type. Towards the end of Speaker Johnson's interview with Mark Levin, Johnson said that he's feeling good about GOP candidate recruitment:

I suspect Sen. Pratt is one of the candidates that's got Speaker Johnson excited.