In 2022, just 15 votes separated Republican Roger Skraba from DFL incumbent Rob Ecklund in what was the closest Minnesota House of Representatives race that year.
Skraba, a carpenter, former mayor, and Army veteran, prevailed in that election and has represented House District 3A for the last two years. Now, Skraba is running for reelection in what could once again be one of the closest legislative elections of the year.
However, this time the race features three candidates: Harley Droba, the DFL candidate and mayor of International Falls; Rich Tru, a Forward Party Independent candidate; and Skraba.
House District 3A encompasses a large portion of northeastern Minnesota and includes Cook County, Koochiching County, most of Lake County, and large portions of St. Louis and Itasca counties.
Alpha News reached out to Skraba, Droba, and Tru with questions for this story. Skraba and Tru responded. Droba’s campaign declined Alpha News’ media request, saying “it does not meet the criteria as laid out in our campaign plan.”
In speaking to Alpha News, Skraba blasted the DFL trifecta that has controlled the Minnesota House, the Minnesota Senate, and the Minnesota governorship over the last two years.
“They spent $18 plus billion of surplus without hardly any support from Republicans, they raised taxes by $10 billion and grew the government by 40%,” said the GOP candidate. “And they passed a whole year’s worth of legislation in one 1,400 page bill with only 30 minutes for us to read it.”
Skraba also criticized the DFL for allowing “anyone to get a driver’s license without any vetting” and for voting to allow the state flag to be changed.
Previously the mayor of Ely, Minn., Skraba said he wants to find solutions for families who are facing property tax bills that are “taxing them out.”
Additionally, Skraba wants the House to pass legislation that will “walk back” the Paid Family Leave Act that was passed last year, saying the law “needs more work before it becomes law.” Furthermore, Skraba said the House should pass a bonding bill and legislation that funds “more housing in rural Minnesota.”
Meanwhile, Tru said the people of House District 3A “do not want one of the two major parties to represent them anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter what party has which branch of power, the corporate and other dark money interests have broken and corrupted the parties,” said Tru.
Tru told Alpha News that he would like to reform and potentially increase the per-pupil funding formula for public schools, make investments into the development of nuclear power in Minnesota, and prioritize rural healthcare and education as a state legislator.
The Forward Party Independent candidate also counts himself a supporter of ranked-choice voting (RCV). According to Tru, implementing statewide RCV in local and federal elections “will get more direct power, more secure voting power to the voters” and “get real people into office to get real change moving forward.”
Alpha News asked Tru how he would operate in a chamber controlled by one of the two major parties given the fact that he is a member of neither party.
“Let me be Switzerland,” the Forward Party Independent candidate said. Tru elaborated by saying that he would “work effectively as a partisan deal broker” and that he is “not beholden to some party, I will be beholden to my communities.”
Regarding those who may view him as a “spoiler” candidate, Tru said “60% of Americans want more real parties and options to vote for that aren’t the 2 parties,” and “around 70% of Americans identify as independent.”
“This is a real race, if you think I am spoiling someone’s chance or some party’s chance, let me tell you, no party is entitled to a 1v1,” said Tru.
Democrats currently have a 70-64 majority in the Minnesota House. As such, a change in just a few seats could swing the chamber to the GOP. Given the toss-up nature of House District 3A last year, the race between Skraba, Droba, and Tru could determine which party controls the House.
This article is part of a series called “Swing-District Spotlight” in which Alpha News examines competitive state legislative seats across Minnesota.