Pete Stauber

Pete Stauber is a Republican politician and former professional hockey player who has served as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district since January 2019. Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Stauber attended Lake Superior State University on a hockey scholarship, where he captained the team to a Division I National Championship in 1988 and earned a degree in criminology. Following college, he played professional hockey within the Detroit Red Wings organization before returning to his hometown to pursue a career in law enforcement. Stauber served as a police officer with the Duluth Police Department for over two decades, retiring at the rank of lieutenant. His transition into politics began with his service on the Hermantown City Council followed by his election to the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners in 2012. In 2018, he was first elected to Congress, becoming only the second Republican to represent Minnesota's 8th district since 1947. In the House, he has been a prominent member of the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business, specifically chairing the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Stauber’s policy positions are rooted in economic development for Northern Minnesota, focusing heavily on mining and energy production. He is a vocal advocate for domestic mineral extraction, such as the Twin Metals project, and supports timber production to bolster the local economy and address housing costs. On healthcare, he has been a critic of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has voted in favor of measures that would reduce funding for Medicaid. While he has stated a commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare, his voting record includes support for budget frameworks that critics argue could lead to program cuts. Regarding immigration, Stauber advocates for strict border security and has linked illegal immigration to increased competition for domestic housing. He maintains a pro-life stance on reproductive rights and generally supports conservative fiscal policies, such as making federal income tax cuts permanent and reducing government regulation.