Craig and Teirab square off over Social Security and abortion in the first head-to-head debate in the 2nd District

Democratic Rep. Angie Craig and Republican candidate Joe Teirab battled for the upper hand in Minnesota's key congressional race. The challenger blamed the incumbent for the economic woes while pushing him into a defensive stance on abortion and Social Security.

Friday's showdown on MPR News was the first head-to-head debate for the 2nd Congressional District rivals.

Craig, a three-term lawmaker, and Teirab, a former prosecutor and former Marine, opened with a handshake but quickly parted ways on a range of issues, from the economy to abortion to immigration.

Teirab said the economy was the most important thing and Craig was to blame for the financial woes due to the spending bills she supported, which he called “reckless.”

“Congresswoman Craig voted for the bills that fueled the inflation fire,” Teirab said. “We must reduce reckless spending, eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and reduce taxes.”

Craig acknowledged that prices have risen but defended Democrats' post-pandemic approach and highlighted their bill that would create a federal task force to investigate high consumer prices. She also pointed to Democrats' successful push to cap insulin levels for seniors at $35 a month.

“This is an area — gas prices, grocery prices, prescription drug costs — that I have been very focused on as a congressman from the Second District,” she said.

Craig tried to portray Teirab as someone seeking a dramatic change to Social Security, arguing that he had told voters he would consider raising the retirement age and other structural changes. He vigorously denied this stance.

“Look, we made a promise to the seniors. We made a promise to veterans. We made a promise to those on Medicare,” Teirab emphasized. “We cannot cut benefits to the people we have made promises to and who have contributed to this workforce.”

Both said the nation's retirement safety net is under strain and they agreed that benefits for those who receive Social Security checks should not have to pay federal taxes on that income up to a certain level.

The district, which stretches from the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities to the agricultural country around Northfield and LeCenter, is expected to be Minnesota's most competitive U.S. House race this year. It is one of the few seats across the country that will decide which party leads the Congress next year. Craig has represented the district since 2019, but the margins of her last three wins have been slim.

Abortion rights are central to Craig's re-election campaign and an issue at the heart of this year's election. Craig says if re-elected, she would work to codify abortion rights nationwide after the U.S. Supreme Court upended the legal landscape in 2022.

Teirab said he opposes a federal abortion ban and believes the parameters should be left up to states. He accused Craig of using abortion as a “political wedge issue.”

“I'm running to represent Minnesota's Second Congressional District, and as you know, abortion access exists in all nine months of pregnancy in Minnesota,” Teirab said.

Craig said leaving the decision up to states would take away American women's right to make their own health decisions.

“If you were running for state office, your commentary on state law in Minnesota might make sense, but you're running for Congress,” Craig said. “Ten states across the country are forcing rape survivors to carry their babies to term, and only the federal government can stop it.”

Another important issue in the campaign is immigration.

Craig and Teirab both agreed that more needs to be done to secure the country's borders.

Teirab blamed Democrats for what he called a massive refugee crisis, a human trafficking problem and a fentanyl problem.

“As a federal prosecutor, I’m putting fentanyl dealers behind bars, drug dealers linked to cartels behind bars,” he said. “It is sad and unacceptable that politicians like you, Congresswoman Craig, helped enable an open border that had to be cleaned up by people in law enforcement.”

Craig said she voted with Republicans to condemn the Biden administration's work at the border, but underscored her belief that former President Donald Trump derailed a major bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year to make it an issue could have for his election campaign.

“I have worked to secure the southern border and even joined my own party to make it happen,” she said.

Craig and Teirab agreed that the U.S. must support Israel and Ukraine in military conflicts that affect both international allies, and that people who break the law should be prosecuted, including some of the people who took part in the insurrection January 6th at the Capitol.

As a federal prosecutor, Teirab helped in the case of Brian Mock, a Minnesota man who was convicted of federal assault in connection with clashes with police at the U.S. Capitol that day. He said he disagreed with Trump's promise to pardon felons like Mock on Jan. 6.

“If someone kicks a police officer or steals a riot shield, they should be held accountable,” Teirab said.

Craig chimed in: “No one is above the legal deadline. If someone commits a crime, especially against a police officer, they should be held accountable.”

Teirab also commented on Trump, his party's presidential candidate, regarding the outcome of the 2020 election.

“Joe Biden was elected president and I think that was unfortunate from my perspective because what happened was middle class families paid the price with high inflation and an open border,” Teirab said.

Craig said she can't imagine a scenario in which she would stand in the way of certifying the election, even if Trump emerges victorious in November.

“I believe in the integrity of American elections,” she said.