Trina Swanson, a former federal immigration official, has won the Democratic primary in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ projections. She beat out John Munter and Luke Gulbranson, the latter known for his appearances on Bravo's "Summer House."
Swanson now advances to face four-term Republican incumbent Rep. Pete Stauber in November. The district, which covers the northeastern part of the state, is considered solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report, making Stauber the heavy favorite.
Stauber first won the seat in 2018 by about five points and has since won reelection by double digits each time. In the 2024 presidential race, Donald Trump carried the district by 14.3 points, according to The Downballot, underscoring the challenge for any Democrat.
Swanson, who now works as an immigration attorney, spent nearly two decades at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). She rose to become director of international operations, a role she held for two years before departing the agency last year, per her LinkedIn profile.
Her campaign has been critical of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement push. Her platform argues that the country "can secure our borders while upholding the rule of law."
The administration sent thousands of immigration officers to Minnesota earlier this year as part of a targeted operation. In January, federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, sparking protests against the administration both locally and nationally.
Swanson's primary win came with key backing. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), the dean of the state's congressional delegation, endorsed her, as did the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in May.
Stauber has closely aligned himself with Trump in office. Last year, he voted with the president's position 100% of the time, according to VoteHub, putting him in step with most House Republicans.
The general election will test whether Swanson can overcome the district's GOP lean. Her background in immigration policy and her criticism of the administration's tactics could resonate in a region where those issues have been prominent.
For more on Minnesota's primaries, including the governor's race and the Senate primary, see our coverage.
