DFL challenger Rick Nolan, rekindling his congressional career 30 years after he last served in the U.S. House, has defeated one-term Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., in one of the most closely watched and expensive U.S. House races in the nation.

Republican Congressman Chip Cravaack and Democratic challenger Rick Nolan discussed mining regulations, health care, business growth, and the national debt at their debate in Cambridge. Not surprisingly, they found little common ground. The campaign is among the closest and most expensive House races in the country.

DFL challenger Rick Nolan has moved ahead of freshman Republican Chip Cravaack 50 percent to 43 percent, according to a new Star Tribune poll of likely voters in the Eighth Congressional District. Previous polls showed the race was a tossup.

DFL challenger Rick Nolan in a Duluth debate Tuesday called first-term incumbent Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., a "big spender" on defense who has neglected domestic issues including transportation, the Star Tribune reports. Cravaack advocated lower taxes and fewer regulations to create jobs, and he said Nolan is symbolic of an "antiquated" style of big government.

There are now dueling get-to-know-you ads in the 8th District congressional race between Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., and DFL challenger Rick Nolan. In his newly released spot, Cravaack focuses on how he reached his goal of becoming a Naval aviator like his father – and how he is now a father who wants to help his children achieve their dreams.

Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack didn't wait long after Tuesday's primaries to take a shot at his Democratic opponent in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. On Wednesday, Cravaack kicked off his re-election campaign by calling former Rep. Rick Nolan a "big-government guy," and Nolan called himself a "real true native of this district" in reference to his party's issue with Cravaack’s family moving to New Hampshire.

In one of the nation's closest congressional races, Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., has released his third-quarter fundraising numbers ahead of next week's filing deadine: $471,000, the most he has netted in a single quarter. Money is pouring into the race from outside the state.

So-called Super PACs are pouring money into the Iron Range district, where Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack will defend his seat against Democrats who think they have a chance to win it back. Cravaack won the seat after an upset victory over longtime Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar.