Cummins announces run for Congress against Oberstar

Mike Cummins, a Pine City home efficiency developer, called me Friday night to confirm that he’ll be seeking the GOP endorsement for the Eighth Congressional District seat held by Jim Oberstar.

Cummins was gone most of the week touring a solar array in Canada as part of his job in helping people make their homes more energy efficient. This bears mentioning because energy policy topped his list of issues during our conversation.

“I’m fed up with the way things in Washington are done,” said Cummins. “We have four dollar gas and no one is doing anything.”

Though Cummins was restrained in embracing a full transition to alternative energy sources, he cited them as one part of the solution, hearkening a position quite similar to Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

In an interesting twist, Cummins used former Sen. Paul Wellstone as an example of the kind of leadership he says he plans to offer.

“We lost a great senator in Paul Wellstone six years ago because what he said around the kitchen table was the same thing he said in public,” said Cummins. “He was honest. I hardly ever agreed with him, but I appreciated the honesty. That’s the kind of representative I want to be. That’s what you’ll get with me. What I say around the kitchen table is what I’ll say in office.”

That’s was a large part of Cummins focus in our conversation. He’s different than the status quo.

“If people want another two years with Mr. Oberstar, that’s fine, but my message is going to get out,” said Cummins. “There’s more to politics than what we’ve had. I’ve talked to plenty of people who want all the incumbents out. They want a fresh start. Whether it’s energy or health care, people are looking for leadership.”

Cummins will seek the GOP endorsement Saturday in McGregor. If endorsed, he plans to meet with party officials next week to plan a campaign. More detailed policy plans will be released then.

ANALYSIS: Cummins strikes a different tone than the straight-up traditional conservative issue tack of former Sen. Rod Grams in his failed bid two years ago. He sounded sincere, but it’s also the position many Republicans are taking in what appears to be a difficult year for their party. As a political unknown facing the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Cummins faces an enormous challenge just in getting noticed. It’s striking how late his campaign is starting. Every other serious Congressional challenger in the country is already actively running. Still, he was nice to talk to, and if all the Republicans in the world understood the role of conservation in our energy policy we’d actually be close to solving the problem. At this time, I remain unconvinced that his candidacy will shake up the race the way the GOP had boldly predicted.

As always, I will keep following the state of political races like this in northern Minnesota.

Comments

  1. Cummins spent the last week in Canada? Way to gear up for a Congressional campaign Mike.

  2. This guy will not even get Republicans to vote for him with all Wellstone and solar energy talk. This was all there is in the 8th for Republican talent? Better to not have anyone run than this clown.

  3. Michael Cummins says

    I am disappointed that there is a disconnet here. While I believe that Paul was an honest and truthful person in his own circles, I never would have followed him down the road he was heading and as for the Solar Panels, that was for work and nothing political. We need to be drilling and drilling now. We cannot support this kind of burden in the 8th district and in Minnesota.
    I think that we need to realize that this country runs on oil and coal and lots of it and I am tired of someone else pulling our short hairs on this issue.
    Washington is disconnected with the American people and it is about time we start connecting.

  4. Yes, I believe I made it clear that Mike Cummins was in Canada for work reasons. And, as I said, he was open to alternative energy, but in favor of traditional sources as well … like I said, similar to the McCain position.

    Thanks, all, for your comments.

  5. This guy’s web site lists his education as votec machine courses and later realty courses. He sold houses at a time when a lazy dim witt would have been successful. Does being a house salesman qualify one for congress? He has grandiose plans of beating Oberstar in a district that has been hardly contested this year. Even the GOP has spent very little effort and money in his campaign. Have you seen an add on this campaign? My opinion is he is just another out of work realtor with hopes of one last big sale and a cushy job in Washington.

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