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Mike Obermueller
Mike Obermueller ran for the U.S. House representing the 2nd Congressional District of Minnesota in 2014.[1] Obermueller won the Democratic nomination in the primary on August 12, 2014.[2] He was defeated by incumbent John Kline (R) in the general election on November 4, 2014.[3]
Obermueller was also a 2012 Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Minnesota. Previously, he was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 38B from 2009 to 2011. He was defeated in the 2010 general election.
Biography
Obermueller was born in Marshfield, WI. He was raised on a small family-run dairy farm. He earned his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and his B.A. in media and public address from Loras College. Obermueller is a member of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Eagan Art Festival Board, Knights of Columbus and Saint Thomas Becket Catholic Church.[4]
Career
Obermueller has worked as a criminal prosecutor, as Director of College Dining Service/Catering Business at Mount Marty College and as an associate with Winthrop and Weinstine, Practicing Attorneys.[4]
Elections
2014
Obermueller ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 2nd District.[5] Obermueller won the Democratic nomination in the primary on August 12, 2014.[2] He was defeated by incumbent John Kline (R) in the general election on November 4, 2014.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  John Kline Incumbent |
56% | 137,778 | |
| Democratic | Mike Obermueller | 38.9% | 95,565 | |
| Independence | Paula Overby | 5% | 12,319 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 186 | |
| Total Votes | 245,848 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mike Obermueller |
82.5% | 12,361 | ||
| Michael J. Roberts | 17.5% | 2,622 | ||
| Total Votes | 14,983 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State |
||||
Media
- In May 2014, Obermueller released a campaign ad entitled, "Dance Party," in which he attacked Republican incumbent John Kline for his position on the Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare." According to Obermueller, "To insurance executives, John Kline is music to their ears because if Congress repeals Obamacare, insurance companies will go back to charging whatever they want."[6] This ad was included on a Politico list of "The season's most bizarre political ads."[7]
|
2012
Obermueller ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 2nd District. He lost to incumbent John Kline in the November general elections.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Kline Incumbent |
54% | 193,587 | |
| Democratic | Mike Obermueller | 45.8% | 164,338 | |
| NA | Write-in | 0.1% | 521 | |
| Total Votes | 358,446 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" (dead link) | ||||
Effect of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Minnesota
According to the Washington Post, redistricting transformed the 2nd District from a safe seat into a swing district. While the 2nd formerly went safely for Republican John Kline, the newly drawn district was a battleground for Republicans and Democrats fighting for control of the House. Democratic leadership selected Obermueller as their "Red to Blue" program candidate.[9]
Given the new district maps, Democrats in the state said they had better odds of defeating incumbent John Kline (R), who won his last election by a 30 percent margin. Democrats hoped that Kline's south suburban and rural district, which included a southeastern swath of Minnesota from Dakota County to Wabasha County and over to Scott and Rice counties, would turn in their favor.[10]
Media
Obermueller first campaign ad aired on October 8, 2012.[11]
|
Campaign issues
The policy positions below were highlighted on Obermueller's campaign website.[13]
- Cutting Wasteful Spending and Reducing the National Debt
Excerpt: "First, we need to cut spending. We can start right away by eliminating more than $200 billion in government redundancies and waste identified by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO)....Second, we need to end tax subsidies for big oil companies and ask millionaires to pay their fair share."[13]
- Creating Jobs
Excerpt: "Mike will work to create an environment in which small businesses can thrive as members of our communities to encourage new job creation and entrepreneurship."[13]
- Education
Excerpt: "A strong public education system means a strong long-term economy. In order to achieve this, we must lower our class sizes, adopt high standards for schools that reward creativity, train and retain the best teachers and provide higher education that is affordable and accessible to all qualified students."[13]
- Energy
Excerpt: "We need a comprehensive energy plan which works towards energy independence and sustainability. Investing in the production of clean and renewable energy is not only a step toward sustainability but will be a boost to the economy, particularly in rural communities."[13]
- Seniors
Excerpt: "Social Security and Medicare are earned benefits and part of a solemn promise we’ve made to our seniors. We must protect and defend these rights from those willing to put our seniors at risk."[13]
- Women’s Rights
Excerpt: "All women deserve equal pay for equal work; access to effective birth control; and the right to make their own medical decisions in consultation with their doctors."[13]
- Agriculture
Excerpt: "Mike will work to protect small, family farms and smart farm policy."[13]
- Securing the Homeland
Excerpt: "When facing international conflict, the United States needs to exhaust every possible option before putting our military in harm’s way and using force. However, the United States needs to reserve the right to use force, once all other options have been exhausted. We need to maintain a strong military in case its participation is necessary."[13]
- Honoring Our Veterans
Excerpt: "We need to make sure we’re not only fully funding our men and women in the armed forces when they are in the field, but when they come back home as well. They deserve education as well as care for those coming back with injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."[13]
2010
Obermueller ran for re-election to the District 38B seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He was defeated by Doug Wardlow (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[14]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mike Obermueller won election to the District 38B Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Lynn Wardlow. [15]
Mike Obermueller raised $41,708 for his campaign.[16]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 38B (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Mike Obermueller (DFL)
|
10,712 | 51.19% | ||
| Lynn Wardlow (R) | 10,193 | 48.71% | ||
| Write-In | 19 | 0.09% | ||
Campaign finance summary
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Committee assignments
Prior to leaving the house, Obermueller served on the following committees:
- Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division (Vice Chair)
- Energy Finance and Policy Division
- Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
- K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Obermueller and his wife, Sarah, have two children.[17]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Mike + Obermueller + Minneosta + Congress"
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014
- Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District
External links
- Mike Obermueller's campaign website
- Minnesota House of Representatives - Rep. Obermueller
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- MySpace
Footnotes
- ↑ Startribune.com, "Two Democrats plan to run against Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline" April 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Minnesota - 2014 Primary Results," accessed August 12, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "House Elections Results," accessed November 11, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Obermueller"
- ↑ Mike Obermueller, "Campaign website," accessed July 17, 2013
- ↑ YouTube, "Mike Obermueller for Congress - Dance Party," accessed August 28, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "The season's most bizarre political ads," accessed August 28, 2014
- ↑ ABC News, "General Election Results 2012-Minnesota," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ Washington Post blog, "The 10 House districts that might surprise you," accessed May 11, 2012
- ↑ Star Tribune, "DFL has set its sights on Rep. John Kline's seat," accessed April 6, 2012
- ↑ Mike Obermueller, "News and Updates," accessed October 9, 2012
- ↑ YouTube, "Pizza"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 Mike Obermueller, "Issues," accessed October 9, 2012
- ↑ Secretary of State, "Official general election results"
- ↑ Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results"
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on Obermuller's 2008 campaign contributions"
- ↑ Vote Smart Project, "Mike Obermueller," accessed October 9, 2012
