Radio host Jason Lewis jumps into Minnesota 2nd race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=265&v=-dFYTvQKm1M

Longtime radio talk show host Jason Lewis announced Monday that he’s running for Congress in Minnesota's 2

nd

District.

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Lewis, who has never held elected office, becomes the fourth Republican trying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.

He made his intentions known in a video posted on his new campaign website.

“This campaign is going to be about big things, and the biggest will fixing the problems in the 2

nd

District and Minnesota,” Lewis said.

In the video, which runs more than four minutes, Lewis is critical of the size of government and what he terms the “establishment politicians” in Washington, D.C. He said he wants to reduce federal spending and improve the economy.

“We all believe in peace through strength, but the biggest threat to our national security is economic insecurity right here at home,” he said. "So my campaign won’t be about more foreign aid or nation building abroad. In fact if we’re going to be guarding borders, they ought to be our own.”

The other announced Republican candidates in the 2

nd

District are David Gerson, John Howe and Pam Myhra.

Angie Craig and Mary Lawrence are the two Democrats running.

UPDATE

Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin released a statement criticizing Lewis as "extreme" and "out of sync" with the district.

"Even the Republicans in CD2 would be embarrassed by Lewis’ far-right views, not to mention the fact that he doesn’t even live in the South Metro," Martin wrote.  "His radical views may play in Woodbury but they won’t resonate with families throughout the 2

nd

district."