Westrom named an NRCC ‘contender’

Elbow Lake Republican state Sen. Torrey Westrom will be getting additional assistance from Washington in his campaign to wrest the 7th Congressional District seat from long-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson.

Westrom, who was already part of the National Republican Congressional Committee's 'Young Guns' program for promising congressional hopefuls, has been elevated to a 'Contender.'

That means Westrom will be getting additional tools and support to run his campaign and mentoring from established Republicans already serving in Washington, according to a press release from the NRCC.

The 7th District district is generally conservative, and this year the NRCC has been trying to paint Peterson as out-of-touch with the district.

But pollsters aren't convinced that Peterson is as vulnerable as the NRCC is making him out to be. For instance, University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato lists the 7th as a "Likely Democratic" as does the Cook Political Report.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.