Eagan's Paula Overby, Openly Transgender, Runs for Congress as Independent

Eagan's Paula Overby is the 2016 Independence Party of America candidate seeking to represent Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House.

Overby, along with Republican nominee Jason Lewis and Democratic nominee Angie Craig, is vying for the open House seat vacated by outgoing Republican John Kline.

City Pages reported that Overby became the first transgender congressional candidate in the U.S. back in 2014, when she secured the Independence Party endorsement for the 2nd District.

Ballotpedia states that Overby ran uncontested for the Independence nomination in the primary on August 2014 but was defeated by Republican incumbent Kline in the general election.

Overby again won the Independence Party endorsement in 2016.

According to the Pioneer Press, Overby was born a man but now identifies as a woman.

Overby produced several campaign ads during the 2014 race.

According to an August poll done by Lewis' campaign, he leads with 39 percent of the vote, while rivals Craig (27 percent) and Oberby (7 percent) trail.

However, the Cook Political Report currently lists the race as leaning Democratic.

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