Pete Stauber

Pete Stauber
Born	Peter Allen Stauber 10 5, 1966
Birthplace	Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former police officer, former professional hockey player
Known for	U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district
Education	Lake Superior State University (BA)
Spouse(s)	Jodi Stauber
Children	6
Website	[[stauber.house.gov stauber.house.gov] Official site]

Peter Allen Stauber (born May 10, 1966) is an American politician, retired law enforcement officer, and former minor-league hockey player who has served as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district since January 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Stauber represents a largely rural, working-class district in northeastern Minnesota that encompasses the Iron Range, the port city of Duluth, and vast stretches of northern forest and lake country. Before entering Congress, his life followed an unusual trajectory—from star college hockey player who helped lead Lake Superior State University to a national championship, to a career as a police lieutenant in Duluth during which he was shot in the line of duty, to service as a county commissioner in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Stauber is only the second Republican to represent his district since 1947, a reflection of the political realignment that has reshaped the traditionally Democratic-leaning Iron Range and surrounding communities in the early 21st century.

Early Life

Pete Stauber was born on May 10, 1966, in Duluth, Minnesota, where he grew up. Duluth, situated on the western tip of Lake Superior, is the largest city in northeastern Minnesota and has long served as an economic and cultural hub for the surrounding region. Stauber comes from a family with ties to hockey; his brothers Dan Stauber and Robb Stauber also pursued careers in the sport. Robb Stauber went on to play professional hockey as a goaltender, including stints in the National Hockey League.

Growing up in Duluth, Stauber developed skills as an ice hockey player and competed at a high level through his youth. The city's northern climate and strong hockey culture provided a natural environment for the sport. Stauber played as a left wing and shot left-handed, standing 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 190 pounds during his playing career.

Education

Stauber attended Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. At Lake Superior State, Stauber was a member of the university's men's ice hockey team, the Lakers. He emerged as a star player on the squad, and in 1988, he helped lead the Lakers to victory in the 1988 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, capturing the national championship. Following the championship, the team visited the White House, where Stauber met President Ronald Reagan. Stauber later described this meeting with Reagan—whom he considered a political idol—as a formative experience that kindled his interest in politics and public service.

Career

Professional Hockey

After completing his education at Lake Superior State University, Stauber pursued a career in professional ice hockey. He played in the minor leagues from 1990 to 1993, suiting up for the Adirondack Red Wings and the Toledo Storm. Playing left wing, Stauber competed in the lower tiers of professional hockey but did not reach the National Hockey League.

His hockey career, while brief, remained an important part of his identity. After retiring from professional play, Stauber maintained connections to the sport. He later opened a hockey-focused sports store in Duluth, reflecting his continued involvement with the game and the local hockey community.

Law Enforcement

In 1995, Stauber began a career in law enforcement, joining the Duluth Police Department. He served in the department for over two decades, from 1995 to 2017, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. During his years on the force, Stauber was shot while on duty, an experience that underscored the dangers of his profession and that he would later reference in his political career as evidence of his commitment to public safety.

His law enforcement background became a central element of his public persona and political identity. Throughout his subsequent political career, Stauber emphasized his experience as a police officer, particularly on issues related to public safety and criminal justice.

St. Louis County Commission

While still serving as a police officer, Stauber entered elected politics at the local level. On January 1, 2013, he took office as a member of the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, representing the 5th district. He succeeded Peg Sweeney in the position. Stauber served as county commissioner concurrently with his law enforcement duties and continued in the role until January 3, 2019, when he resigned to take his seat in Congress. He was succeeded on the county commission by Keith Musolf.

St. Louis County is one of the largest counties in Minnesota by area, encompassing much of the Iron Range and the city of Duluth. Stauber's service on the county commission provided him with experience in regional governance and familiarity with the economic and infrastructure challenges facing northeastern Minnesota, including issues related to mining, natural resources, and rural communities.

2018 Congressional Campaign

In 2018, Stauber ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 8th congressional district, seeking to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent Rick Nolan. The race was considered one of the top pickup opportunities for the Republican Party nationally, as the district had been trending toward the GOP in recent election cycles despite its long history of Democratic representation.

Stauber's candidacy received significant attention and support from national Republican figures. President Donald Trump traveled to Duluth in June 2018 to rally support for Stauber and the Republican cause in the district. At the rally, Trump offered a strong endorsement of Stauber's candidacy, highlighting his background in law enforcement and hockey.

The 2018 race was closely watched as a bellwether for the broader political realignment occurring in the Upper Midwest. The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal both covered the contest as emblematic of Republican hopes to offset losses elsewhere in a challenging midterm year. The Wall Street Journal noted that the party saw particular opportunity in Minnesota even as House Republicans faced difficult prospects nationally.

In the November 2018 general election, Stauber defeated Democratic nominee Joe Radinovich. With his victory, Stauber became only the second Republican to represent the 8th district since 1947, a measure of the district's dramatic political shift. The district, which covers northeastern Minnesota including the Iron Range, had been a stronghold of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) for decades, rooted in the region's labor and mining heritage.

U.S. House of Representatives

Stauber took office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Rick Nolan. In Congress, he has focused on issues of particular importance to his district, including mining and natural resources, law enforcement, and rural economic development.

Legislative Priorities

One of Stauber's signature legislative efforts has centered on mining and critical minerals. Minnesota's 8th district contains significant mineral deposits, and the issue of mining—particularly proposals for copper-nickel mining on the Iron Range—has been a politically significant topic in the region. In February 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Stauber's Critical Mineral Dominance Act (H.R. 4090), legislation aimed at promoting domestic production of critical minerals. Stauber framed the bill as essential to reducing American dependence on foreign sources of minerals used in technology, defense, and energy production.

On healthcare, Stauber campaigned in 2018 on promises related to drug pricing. However, a 2019 report noted that some Republican members, including those who had campaigned on bold drug pricing pledges, faced questions about the pace and scope of legislative follow-through on the issue.

Bipartisanship and Voting Record

The Lugar Center's Bipartisan Index, which measures the degree to which members of Congress work across party lines, included Stauber in its 2019 rankings of House members. The index evaluates legislators based on their co-sponsorship patterns and willingness to collaborate with members of the opposing party.

Stauber's voting record has been tracked by FiveThirtyEight, which calculates a "Trump Score" measuring how often a member of Congress votes in line with the president's position. This metric has been used by political observers to assess Stauber's alignment with Republican leadership and the Trump administration.

Recent Activities

In February 2026, Stauber announced that YouTuber Nick Shirley and David Hoch would be his guests at President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. Multiple news outlets in Minnesota reported on the invitation. Shirley, described as a conservative content creator, had gained attention for a December video related to immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. Stauber's decision to invite Shirley drew coverage from regional outlets including the Duluth News Tribune, Northern News Now, Fox 21, and WDIO.

Personal Life

Stauber is married to Jodi Stauber. Together they have six children. The family resides in the Duluth, Minnesota, area, where Stauber has deep roots dating back to his childhood.

Stauber's brothers, Dan Stauber and Robb Stauber, also had careers connected to hockey. Robb Stauber played goaltender professionally, including at the NHL level, making the Stauber family notable within Minnesota's hockey community.

After his professional hockey career ended, Stauber remained connected to the sport through a hockey-related retail business in Duluth. The store focused on equipment and services for hockey players and skaters in the region.

Stauber was shot while serving as a police officer with the Duluth Police Department. The incident occurred during his 22-year tenure with the department, during which he rose from officer to the rank of lieutenant. He has cited the experience as formative in shaping his views on public safety and law enforcement policy.

Recognition

Stauber's 2018 election victory received national attention as one of the Republican Party's notable gains in a midterm cycle that otherwise saw significant Democratic advances in the House of Representatives. His win in a historically Democratic-leaning district was cited by political analysts and journalists as evidence of broader political realignment in parts of the Upper Midwest, particularly among working-class and rural voters.

As a college athlete, Stauber was recognized for his role in Lake Superior State University's 1988 NCAA Division I national ice hockey championship. The championship and subsequent White House visit were milestone events in both the university's athletic history and Stauber's personal narrative.

Stauber's congressional record and activities are documented through official sources including the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, the Federal Election Commission, and the Congress.gov legislative database.

Legacy

Stauber's election and continued service in Congress represent a significant political shift in northeastern Minnesota. The 8th congressional district, which encompasses the Iron Range—a region historically defined by iron ore mining, organized labor, and Democratic politics—had been represented almost exclusively by Democrats and DFL members for over seven decades before Stauber's 2018 victory. His success as only the second Republican to hold the seat since 1947 has been interpreted by political commentators as part of a broader national trend in which rural and working-class communities that once formed the base of the Democratic coalition have moved toward the Republican Party.

Stauber's background—combining athletics, law enforcement, local government, and small business ownership—has been noted as reflective of a particular type of Republican candidate who has found electoral success in traditionally blue-collar districts. His emphasis on mining, natural resources, and public safety aligns with the economic and cultural priorities of his constituents in a region where resource extraction and law enforcement remain salient issues.

His legislative work on critical minerals, including the passage of the Critical Mineral Dominance Act through the House in 2026, reflects his focus on the economic interests of his district and the broader national conversation about domestic mineral production and supply chain security.