The medical device industry is yet again positioned to play a major role in Minnesota congressional races.
Incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), who has been a longtime supporter of the medtech industry and led numerous attempts to repeal the medical device tax, is facing a tough re-election campaign.
Paulsen is facing off against 48-year-old liquor heir Dean Philips (D), and is considered unlikely to keep his seat, which would be the first time since 1961 that Minnesota’s 3rd District was represented by a Democrat. In his last race, against former state Sen. Terri Bonoff (D), Paulsen won with a nearly 14-point lead, and he took the district by 25 points in 2014.
