‘Pro-union’ Republican Farnsworth enters 6A race

Rob Farnsworth

Rob Farnsworth

On Friday, Republican Rob Farnsworth of Hibbing entered the House 6A race to succeed Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing). He’ll seek the GOP endorsement at the Feb. 9 local convention.

Farnsworth described himself as a “pro-union” Republican, who cites his family connection to the iron mining industry.

“I want nothing more than to see this region thrive again, having lived most of my life here on the Iron Range,” said Farnsworth in a campaign statement. “We have watched as the same old policies have forced our citizens to move out of the area in search of jobs. I don’t just want to stop this trend; I want to lead Northern Minnesota in reversing it by growing jobs in the Northland.”

Farnsworth is the son of a 33-year retired miner and has been a licensed teacher for the past 15 years. He has been a union member for 17 years and served as the local union president while teaching for the Department of Corrections.

Farnsworth said, “We have a proud history of organized labor in Minnesota. As a union member, I recognize the impact organized labor has had on our way of life. I will bring a unique voice to the table as a pro-union Republican.”

Some might have heard of Farnsworth from his Quixotic campaign for the GOP gubernatorial endorsement in 2014. Farnsworth says he’s now running for the far more local State Representative office  to create a better future for the region.

“I have four children under the age of eight,” he said. “I want them to have the opportunity to raise their families in Northern Minnesota. High taxes and over-regulation of our mining industry have contributed to the decline of the Iron Range. This decline will prevent our children from staying here. I want to change that so the next generation of Iron Rangers can live and work in the Northland.”

Farnsworth lives in Hibbing with his wife, Jamie, and four young children: Hannah, 7, Isaac, 5, Abigail, 3, and Samuel, 1. He is currently employed as a special education teacher with the Hibbing School District and as a real estate agent with Village Realty.

After graduating high school in Chisholm, Farnsworth earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of St. Thomas and master’s degree from Mankato in special education.

Farnsworth will host a campaign kick-off at JJ’s Coffee and Cream in Hibbing on Friday, Feb. 5 from 6-7 p.m.

Farnsworth is the first GOPer to announce a run. DFLers Julie Sandstede and Mark Larson also declared campaigns last week. The DFL endorsing convention will take place after the March 1 precinct caucuses, though candidates of either party could choose to enter the primary during the filing period in late May.

Comments

  1. Pro- union Republican? That’s the same bull the Reagan said when he ran for Pres. and then busted the Air Traffic Controllers.

    • Independant says

      Pro- union Democrat? That’s the same bull that Obama said when he ran for Pres. and then used executive orders for all sorts of b.s. but not to help members of the United Steel Workers the way Reagan and Bush did against illegally subsidized foreign steel???

  2. Leroy mackey says

    Rob I believe in you go get um buddy

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