By: Michael McIntee, UpTake Reporter

Four Republican candidates running in the primary for Minnesota’s only open congressional seat have been invited to debate less than a week before voters go to the polls. Farm Fest confirms it has invited Republicans Jason Lewis, Darlene Miller, John Howe and Matt Erickson to participate in its congressional forum on Wednesday August 3 in Morgan, Minnesota. They are all running for the second congressional district seat that is being vacated by fellow Republican Rep. John Kline.

If all four Republicans accept the invitation, it will be the first time that Erickson will be part of a debate. He announced his candidacy after Republicans had already endorsed Lewis. Howe and Miller had also sought that endorsement and decided to run in the primary anyway.

Also invited to attend are DFL endorsed candidate Angie Craig and independent candidate Paula Overby. This is Craig’s first run for congress. Overby ran in 2014 as the Independence Party candidate and lost to Kline.

They will all share the Farm Fest stage with the candidates for Minnesota’s first and third congressional districts. Farm Fest says it has invited first district Rep Tim Walz (D) and his opponent Jim Hagedorn (R). Third district Rep. Eric Paulson (R) and his opponent Terri Bonhoff (D) have also been invited.

The UpTake is planning to livestream the 90 minute forum which is scheduled to start at 10:30am.

Last look for CD6 voters before primary.

There are contested primaries in both the DFL and Republican parties in the sixth congressional district where Rep. Tom Emmer (R) is the incumbent. Farm Fest has invited Emmer along with his Republican primary opponent Patrick Munro to appear at a Tuesday August 2 congressional forum. Also invited are both of the Democrats running for the seat David Snyder and Bob Helland.

There is no contested primary in Minnesota’s eighth congressional district, but if past elections are any indication the vote in the northern Minnesota district will be close. Incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan (D) and his opponent Stewart Mills (R) have also been invited to the Tuesday forum. So has incumbent seventh district Rep. Collin Peterson (D) and his opponent David Hughes (R).

The event is scheduled to start at 10:30am and will also be livestreamed by The UpTake.