Quentin R. Wittrock, a 64-year-old retired attorney from Coon Rapids who has never held government office before, has entered the race for the U.S. House seat in the Third District.
Wittrock, running as a Republican, aims to replace the current Democrat incumbent, Rep. Dean Phillips, who announced in November that he would not seek reelection. Instead, Phillips will focus on his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
So far, Wittrock is one of four candidates vying for the two-year term in the Third District, which encompasses western Twin Cities suburbs such as Eden Prairie, Edina, and Bloomington.
On the Democratic side, Ron Harris, a Democratic National Committee (DNC) executive committee member and former chief resilience officer for Minneapolis, and state Sen. Kelly Morrison (DFL-45, Deephaven), an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), have announced their candidacies.
Blaize Harty, a business owner with a construction and dock lift company residing in Carver, is also vying for the Republican nomination.
MinnPost reports that the 2020 U.S. Census redistricting has slightly shifted the district toward the Democratic side. Yet, it remains a “purple” area politically, due to its long history of Republican representation, a pattern broken only in 2018 when Phillips won the seat.
In a Jan. 2 press release announcing his candidacy, Wittrock described himself as a political outsider, a trait he “believes is a positive.”
Wittrock founded the non-profit Principle Based Politics in 2021, where he says he has advocated for reasonable and rational policies over polarized, divisive politics. He said most Americans today are stuck somewhere in the political middle and alienated by extreme views at both ends of the political spectrum.
“This candidacy continues our grassroots effort for more use of principles by American leaders, the provision of better options for voters, and a political process that helps all citizens,” Wittrock said. “In this cause, we will need the involvement of all people inside and outside the Third District who want representation through leaders who are guided by sound, ethical principles.”
Wittrock said he believes having “principled candidates” on the ballot in November begins on Feb. 27, “when people who want to see less political polarization attend Minnesota’s precinct caucuses.”
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