Abortion was key issue as Democrats Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison win Minnesota congressional seats

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Abortion was a key issue in two suburban Minnesota congressional races as Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig won a fourth term and an OB-GYN doctor won an open seat to keep it in Democratic hands as well.

Craig beat Republican former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab, while Dr. Kelly Morrison, a former state senator, defeated Republican former Washington County District Judge Tad Jude to take the seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips.

“I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude, and with an extended hand to work every single day on your behalf for what is right for the voters and constituents of the 2nd District of Minnesota,” Craig told supporters.

Craig will continue to represent the 2nd District, which includes a political mix of outer suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul south of the Minnesota River, and rural areas farther south that trend Republican. It had been considered Minnesota’s sole swing district, but Craig won it by her biggest margin yet as she stressed her support for abortion rights. While she accused Teirab of being an anti-abortion activist, he said he’d vote against any federal ban or restrictions.

Morrison beat Jude in the 3rd District, which includes suburbs surrounding Minneapolis and has gone Democratic in recent elections. Jude also previously served on the Hennepin County Board and in both chambers of the state Legislature, where in 1972 at age 20 he became the youngest member ever elected to the House.

Craig lost to Republican Jason Lewis by less than 2 percentage points in 2016 before beating him by just over 5.5 points in their 2018 rematch. She defeated Marine Corps veteran Tyler Kistner by just over 2 points in 2020 and just over 5 points in 2022.

Craig, who was targeted with death threats and forced to move after fighting off a mentally disturbed attacker in the elevator of her Washington apartment building, staked out centrist positions on many issues.

Teirab, a Marine Corps veteran and son of a Sudanese immigrant, was supported by influential Republicans including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer. But despite a strong financial advantage, he lost the GOP endorsement at the district convention to anti-establishment conservative Tayler Rahm. Teirab won the primary with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement after Rahm dropped out to become a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign in Minnesota, but divisions between the Teirab and Rahm camps persisted.

Craig had raised nearly $7.6 million by the end of the last reporting period in September, compared with nearly $2.8 million for Teirab.

Morrison touted her leadership on abortion rights in the Minnesota Senate. Jude was an abortion opponent when he was a legislator and supports the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which struck down the nationwide right to abortion. Morrison raised just over $2 million by September, while Jude netted just under $300,000.

Incumbents easily won the state’s six other congressional races. They include Emmer and his fellow Republicans Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber, and Democrats Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum.

Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press