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Clark Will Run Again for House in Different District

Updated: 2:52 p.m.

Former Minnesota state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D), the progressive favorite who posted strong fundraising in her unsuccessful 2010 bid against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R), will run in 2012 in the district held by Rep. Chip Cravaack (R), she announced Sunday.

Clark and her husband bought a condominium in Duluth, which falls in the 8th district, she told the Duluth News Tribune on Saturday. The candidate plans to spend “a good chunk” of her time in the condo, but the couple will also keep their residence in the 6th district, where she ran against Bachmann.

That home in St. Cloud is just south of the 8th district border, and Clark noted that redistricting could put St. Cloud and Duluth in the same district. Republicans control both chambers of the state Legislature, but Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has said he would veto any redistricting bill that doesn’t have bipartisan support, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

“There’s no lines yet, and we just can’t wait for people to be figuring this out,” she told the Duluth News Tribune. “I really believe the important lines are about fighting for our families and sticking up for people.”

The 8th district is currently more favorable to Democrats. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama captured 53 percent of the district’s vote in 2008, versus 44 percent for John McCain. But McCain carried the 6th district, 53 percent to 45 percent for Obama.

Cravaack is expected to seek re-election. The Republican toppled powerful Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D) in November, narrowly defeating the 18-term Congressman 48.2 percent to 46.6 percent.

The Bachmann-Clark race in the 6th district was the cycle’s most expensive battle for a House seat, with the incumbent raising more than $13 million for her re-election campaign and Clark raising $4.6 million. Bachmann easily defeated Clark, 53 percent to 40 percent.

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