LAKE BENTON, Minn. — The race for elected office in 2018 is off the radar for most Minnesotans. The idea of another election doesn’t really hit home for most until the Minnesota State Fair, where politicians and candidate hopefuls gather at the great Minnesota get-together to share their ideas and pick-up votes and donations.
But in Northwestern Minnesota, Matt Prosch becomes the third Republican to announce his bid for congress against longtime incumbent Rep. Collin Peterson.
“I am worried about the direction our country is headed in. Career politicians like [Collin] Peterson have allowed bureaucracy to grow out of control, enabling government to interfere in ever more aspects of our daily lives,” Prosch told Alpha News about his decision to run. “These same career politicians have voted repeatedly to grow our national debt, now at nearly $20 trillion. We cannot trust career politicians to get us out of this mess; we need new voices who will listen to the people, not to special interests.”
Prosch, is a little behind in the race as State Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) announced his bid against Peterson in April and 2016 Republican challenger Dave Hughes announced his decision to run again in February.
But Prosch is running on a similar image that led President Donald Trump to overwhelmingly win the district in 2016. On his website, Prosch identifies himself “as a veteran, businessman, and political outsider.”
The owner of Matt Prosch Trucking Inc., he describes his venture as “a successful 11-year enterprise.”
Prosch, who has never run for office, will face three experienced campaigners in Hughes, Miller, and Peterson. However, he tells Alpha News that he isn’t worried about it.
“I am not a career politician; I am a real Minnesotan – a small businessman who has seen how government all too often gets in the way of growth and prosperity. I believe that will set me apart from Congressman Peterson’s liberal record.”
If none of the candidates bow out after the convention, expect a primary to be held in August 2018.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
