MINNEAPOLIS – A perennial political candidate filed for the MN-1 seat to represent southern Minnesota in Congress. Bob Carney Jr, a Republican, is the first to be on record to succeed Jim Hagedorn, who died in February. A special election to fill the seat is August 9. If there are multiple candidates, Republican and Democrat primaries will be May 24 to narrow the field. Carney, who identifies himself as a writer, inventor and consultant, has sought these offices in the past:
2021: For mayor of Minneapolis. Carney survived Round 1 with 1%, then was eliminated in Round 2. Democrat incumbent Jacob Frey won.
2020: For U.S. Senate. Carney lost the GOP primary to Jason Lewis, fourth in a five-way contest with 4%.
2018: for the MN-5 Congressional district. The district comprises Minneapolis and contiguous areas. Carney lost the GOP primary, third in a three-way contest with 11%
2016: For State Senate District 61. The district comprises south and western Minneapolis. Carney lost to Democrat incumbent Scott Dibble 81% to 18%.
2010: For governor. Carney lost to Tom Emmer 82% to 9%.
Carney is retired and works part-time as a school bus driver. “I have some innovative ideas about how to solve the school bus driver crisis — a nationwide problem,” he said. When he ran for Minneapolis mayor, he said he was trying “to help the Republican party move beyond Trump — and to become a respected and competitive organization.”
Earlier: Dates set to elect Hagedorn successor
Carney. Holds a 1984 bachelor’s degree from Macalester College. Unanswered question: Does Carney reside in MN-1? Residency is not a legal requirement, but residing elsewhere carries a carpetbagger stigma . Carney’s website in the past: bobagain.com