MN 2nd District: Jason Lewis Projected To Lose To Angie Craig

EAGAN, MN — Rep. Jason Lewis is expected to be the second Republican incumbent in the U.S. House to be defeated Tuesday night. After losing to him in 2016, Angie Craig is projected to defeat Lewis for the 2nd District seat.

With 257 of 292 precincts reporting, Craig is leading Lewis in the unofficial vote count, 155620 votes to 143,672.

Polls have closed across Minnesota. Stay with Patch Tuesday night as vote totals pour in.

If the Democratic Party is going to retake control of the U.S. House Tuesday, they’ll likely need to pick up a seat in Minnesota’s 2nd District. DFL nominee Angie Craig is looking to defeat Rep. Jason Lewis, who beat her in the same race in 2016.

The race to represent the south Twin Cities metro in the House is one of the most competitive in the county this year, featuring a progressive and a Trump-backed conservative.

There’s a surprising amount of common ground between the two candidates when it comes to what needs to be fixed in the country, but they’re divided on how to go about it

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For example, both candidates want immigration reform and better border security. Craig says she’s against abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an idea which has gained traction among some progressives this year.

Find all of Patch's Minnesota election coverage here.

Where Lewis and Craig differ is on the need for Trump’s proposed border well. Lewis wants the wall, while Craig instead supports using technology such as drones, sonar, and radar to patrol the southern border.

Where there is not much room for common ground is on the issue of abortion.

Lewis supports banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. He believes states should be able to pass abortion laws.

On her website, Craig says that she supports “full reproductive rights for women and access to contraception and family planning services.” She also supports Planned Parenthood and says she “will continue to fight to protect their funding so that all women.”

• 2018 Midterm Election Results: Vote A Referendum On 'Trump's GOP'

Voters in the 2nd District

Minnesota’s 2nd District spans most of Dakota County, from Eagan all the way down to Northfield. It features a mix of metro suburbs and small, rural towns, the same places Trump cleaned up in the 2016 election.

That might explain why Lewis hasn't been afraid to support Trump and follow his lead. Lewis has voted in line with Trump's position 91.1 percent of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.

But in such a big, politically diverse district, voters are divided who will represent their interests better, Craig or Lewis.

“Jason has been the independent voice for smaller government that he promised to be,” says Patch reader Jackson Harvey.

“He has worked across the aisle to address criminal justice reform, to audit defense spending, and to support the rights of States to make their own marijuana laws. He has supported lower taxes and less job-killing regulation.”

Debby Shepard disagrees, saying that “he doesn't listen to the people of his district because he won't/doesn't have town halls to meet them.”

“I'll be voting for Angie Craig! Vote Blue!”

Reader CJ Betcher is critical of Lewis, but says “it’s a shame the democratic party actively opposed the candidate who would fight for our interests, and could actually win against him,” referring to ex-DFL candidate Jeff Erdmann.

Celebrity endorsements

You probably know Mike Lindell from his famous "My Pillow" commercials. But the Minnesota business owner has been making waves in the political realm as well.

In 2016, Lindell publicly backed Donald Trump for president. His support has earned him trips to visit Trump at the White House and Mar-a-Lago.

This year, Lindell is endorsing Lewis.

"I support Jason Lewis in the Second Congressional District," Lindell said last month.

"He has been an amazing Congressman for my employees for the last two years. And he supported the President in 2016, and he supports him now."

Angie Craig, however, landed a much bigger celebrity endorsement in Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson even recorded a campaign commercial to support her.

In the ad, Jackson says because Craig is "busy on the campaign trail 24/7 making sure the people in her district know she's going to fight for them," he is "scooping out bits of kitty treasure."

"It's important that Angie wins so that Democrats can take back the House, and I'd do anything to help," Jackson adds. "Anything."

More than 535,000 Minnesotans voted before Tuesday

Early voting in Minnesota this year began Sept. 21. As of Monday morning, at least 539,806 absentee ballots had been accepted, almost keeping pace with the 2016 presidential election.

The rate of absentee ballot requests this year increased 129 percent over 2014, which was the last statewide non-presidential election.

“Early voter participation in Minnesota is at record levels,’” Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement Monday.

“With less than 36 hours remaining in the 2018 election, Minnesotans are on-pace to hold our #1 title for voting participation.”

Crucial votes in the suburbs

Several races for U.S. House in the Twin Cities metro area could come down to a tiny margin of voters in the suburbs. With the midterms today, it's worth taking a look at the political landscape of the metro.

Read on: Most Liberal, And Most Conservative Twin Cities Suburbs: List

Minnesota Election Day Weather

You may have to get through rain and snow showers on your way to the polls Tuesday. Election Day will feature plenty of precipitation in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Weather: Election Day 2018 Forecast

Haven't registered to vote yet? Don't worry. Minnesota residents eligible to vote can register on Election Day at their polling location. You will need to show proof of residence before you vote.

If your voter registration is current and active, you do not need to bring an I.D. to the polls.

Where do I vote? You can enter your address into Minnesota's Polling Place Finder to find out where you vote

Interested in Minnesota politics? Subscribe to Patch's daily newsletters and alerts for the latest political news.

Photo: US President Donald Trump greets Jason Lewis, Republican US Congressman from Minnesota's 2nd district, at a campaign rally on October 4, 2018 at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Trump is holding rallies across the U.S. ahead of the midterm elections November 6. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)