Brainerd Dispatch

Luke Gulbranson, reality TV star and model, to challenge Stauber

EVELETH — A reality TV star and model from the Iron Range is running for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District seat. Luke Gulbranson, 42, announced his candidacy against incumbent Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, of Hermantown, in a video Wednesday morning. He's seeking the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination. The Eveleth native and cast member of Bravo's "Summer House" and Netflix's "Selling the OC" said he grew up during periods of economic hardship and relied on food assistance and Medicaid and wants to expand access to affordable health care after recent cuts. He also cited Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "wreaking havoc to our communities" and the war in Iran as reasons he's running. "Yeah, I've been on reality TV, but that's drama for show," Gulbranson said. "But what's happening in D.C. is real drama, with real consequences and the stakes couldn't be higher. I wake up every morning and there's this dangerous rhetoric and madness coming out of D.C., and I can't stand it." Gulbranson's campaign said he planned to file his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. Other 8th District DFL candidates who have filed include Trina Swanson, of Hermantown; John-Paul McBride, of Duluth; Emanuel Anastos, of Tower; and Wendell Smith, of Virginia. Another candidate, Bob Helland, of Duluth, also announced he's running for the seat but said he will not file with the FEC. Two DFL candidates have dropped out: Cyle Cramer and Chad McKenna. Stauber, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has held the 8th District seat since 2019 and has filed for reelection. He is the only GOP candidate in the race as of Wednesday. A reality TV star from the Northland has made his way to Washington, D.C. before. Sean Duffy, a cast member of MTV's "The Real World: Boston" in the 1990s, represented northern Wisconsin in Congress from 2010 to 2019. He is now Trump's secretary of the Department of Transportation.