Erik Paulsen represented the Minnesota 3rd district from 2009 to 2019. In 2016, he won re-election with almost 57% of the vote; Trump, however, lost the district 41-50, the only Minnesota Congressional district where a Republican won that he lost.
But in 2018, Paulsen lost to a Democratic challenger, Dean Phillips, 44-55. What made the difference?
Trump.
Having heard that Minnesota congressman Erik Paulsen was distancing himself from the White House in the hope of holding his seat in the Twin Cities’ suburbs, the president stewed and asked that the political shop send a tweet of support for Paulsen — thereby sabotaging the moderate Republican’s efforts,” according to an excerpt in Alberta’s new book “American Carnage. . . ” Inside Elections Jul 24, 2019
Paulsen knows his district; after 10 years representing it, he should. He knew that it went for Hillary by over 9 points, and he campaigned in 2016 by distancing himself from the Republican nominee. But Trump doesn’t like Republicans who don’t kiss his . . . shoes. So he sabotaged Paulsen — by issuing a tweet supporting him: