ST. PAUL, Minn. – Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger, who represented Minnesota for three terms, 1979 to 1997, died at home. He was 88. His health had been failing. Durenberger was a progressive Republican. He favored health care reform. expanded Medicare benefits, protections for disabled people, and gender equity. He allegiance to the Republican Party was shaken as fiscal conservatives took over in the Newt Gingrich era and gave priority to slashing government programs. By 2005, eight years after leaving office, Durenberger was finished with the Republican Party. In an interview he said Democrats were “better equipped to carry the day” on health care policy. In the 2016 presidential elections, he endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump for president and in 2020 Joe Biden again over Trump.
Durenberger. 1934-2023.