Uphill climb or big challenge: Fischbach leans toward the latter

Republican Michelle Fischbach is the latest in a long line of GOPers out to claim Congressman Collin Peterson’s District 7 seat. She was in Marshall on Saturday to discuss her campaign with the voters. Photo / Per Peterson

By Per Peterson

Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson has rarely been seriously challenged in his bids to represent Minnesota’s 7th District over the last three decades. Republican Michelle Fischbach not only thinks she can present such a challenge, but that she can win in November and do something that so many candidates have failed to do in the last 30 years: usurp the popular Peterson and shift the District 7 seat over to the Republicans.

When asked if she considers herself an underdog against Peterson, Fischabch replied, “I consider myself someone who wants to get out and work and meet the people and talk to them. I don’t know if I consider myself an underdog or not, but I am someone who wants to work hard for the people and make sure they’re represented in Washington D.C.”

Fischbach told a crowd of supporters in Marshall on Saturday that 2020 is the year Republicans are going to “turn Minnesota red,” while retiring Peterson in the process. She appeared at Saturday morning’s grand opening of Marshall’s Republican headquarters on East College Drive with fellow Republican Jason Lewis, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat against former Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith.

“And when we do that,” she added, “we are gonna be able to retire (Democratic House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi. Collin Peterson is a solid vote for Nancy Pelosi. The first thing he does when he goes to Washington is push that button for Nancy Pelosi — we do not need that. Collin has been getting away with it for years, telling people in this distric that he’s a conservative and votes with them, but he does not; he votes with Nancy Pelosi 80% of the time.”

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