Trump-backed Marine veteran wins GOP primary in competitive Minnesota district

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Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab emerged as the winner in the Republican primary for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, setting up a competitive race against incumbent Democratic Rep. Angie Craig.

Teirab defeated Tayler Rahm, according to a call from The Associated Press Tuesday evening.

Teirab, who was endorsed in the race by former President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was the better-funded candidate and was also backed by key House leaders, according to a report from The Associated Press.

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Joe Teirab, running for congress in MN-02, speaks to Fox News Digital (Fox News Digital)

The Trump-backed Minnesotan, who is also a Marine Corps veteran, ran virtually uncontested in the race, with his only primary opponent, Tayler Rahm, dropping out of the race last month. Nevertheless, Rahm remained on the primary ballot.

According to The Associated Press report, Rahm dropped out, despite having the backing of the state GOP, to clear a path for his Trump-endorsed opponent to focus on Craig in the highly competitive district.

"In my opinion, there is nothing more important for this district than getting Biden (or a Democrat replacement) out of power and getting Donald Trump back in the White House," Rahm said in a statement at the time, just days before President Biden decided to drop out of the race. "Therefore, I will suspend my campaign operations and focus on doing everything possible to save our country."

Former President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson both endorsed Teirab. (Getty Images)

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Craig, who is seeking a third term in office, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Minnesota’s 2nd District is rated as "lean" Democrat, according to the Cook Political Report. 

Rep. Angie Craig leaves the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 9, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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Trump won the district by a narrow margin in 2016, coming away with 46.5% of the vote against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 45.3%. The district then swung to Biden in 2020, who topped Trump by just under seven percentage points.

Before Craig’s 2018 victory in the district, it had been represented by Republicans since 2001.

"Congratulations to Marine and former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab on his primary election victory," NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "Republicans are fully behind Joe Teirab because the voters of Minnesota are sick and tired of the hyper-partisan politics from Angie Craig and extreme Democrats who are making Minnesota communities less safe with their radical policies. Angie Craig knows she is in deep trouble, and we look forward to flipping this district red with Joe Teirab."