Rep. Pete Stauber says Trump-Vance visit to Minnesota is exciting for the state

Former President Donald Trump is headed to Minnesota this weekend and will be joined by his new choice for a running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Minnesota 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber says Saturday's Trump-Vance rally in St. Cloud is going to be exciting.

Speaking Friday at a press conference, Stauber says the switch atop the Democratic presidential ticket doesn't change matters with Vice President Kamala Harris there instead of current President Joe Biden.

"It is the the Biden Harris administration," Stauber said. "The policy has never changed. I say it's the same car, just a different driver. Minnesotans have rejected the Biden-Harris policies and Americans have rejected the Biden-Harris policies unequivocally."

Stauber says it's fitting that the rally is taking place at the Herb Brooks Hockey Center because Minnesota is the state of hockey.

On the other side of the ticket, Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and other Democratic elected officials are holding their own news conference Friday afternoon in support of Vice President Harris.

They were joined by Women Winning, Minnesota’s largest women’s political organization, to highlight Harris’ fight for reproductive freedom.

Senator Smith says there's a lot on the line for women and that she believes Harris can defeat former President Donald Trump and protect women's rights.

"This is our fight and we are going to win it, and as vice President Harris said, we will not go back," said Smith.

IBF, abortion and birth control access are just some of the key issues Democrats are looking to protect over the next four years.