Longtime Rep. Jim Oberstar dies at 79

He was Minnesota's longest-serving member of Congress. | AP Photo
Close

By JAKE SHERMAN | 5/3/14 12:13 PM EDT Updated: 5/3/14 12:43 PM EDT

Longtime Minnesota Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar died Friday night, according to House sources and members of the state’s delegation.

Oberstar was 79.

Oberstar was elected in 1974, a part of a large class of Democrats called the Watergate Babies that also included California Reps. Henry Waxman and George Miller. He went on to chair the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and was a longtime champion of cycling.

Oberstar’s northern Minnesota district — dubbed the Iron Range — included his hometown Chisolm and Duluth. He won it handily for many years, but was a victim of the GOP wave in 2010, losing to Republican Chip Cravaack.

In 2012, Cravaack lost to Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), who returned to Congress after a 32-year absence. Nolan was originally elected with Oberstar in 1974.


http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...#ixzz30fkIHjkx