Chip Cravaack Raymond John " Chip " Cravaack ( born December 29 , 1959 ) is an American politician who was the U . S . Representative for northeastern from 2011 to 2013 . In his first try for political office , he upset 18 - term Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar by a margin of 4 , 400 votes to become the first Republican since 1947 to represent the district . Previously , Cravaack was a pilot for Northwest Airlines , and before that he was a Navy pilot , and a graduate of the U . S . Naval Academy . He was defeated by DFL candidate Rick Nolan on November 6 , 2012 . Early life and education . Cravaack was born in Charleston , West Virginia and grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati , Ohio , graduating from St . Xavier High School in 1977 . He was raised in a Republican in a family that had a military background ; his father , Ray , served in the Korean War , and his grandfather served in World War I . Cravaack graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 , receiving a bachelor of science degree . Military service . Following graduation , Cravaack served in the Navy as a helicopter pilot , fulfilling an early ambition . While in the Navy , he earned a master ' s degree in education from the University of West Florida to prepare for his post - military career . After his discharge from active duty , he served in the Naval Reserve doing administrative work for an aircraft carrier and retiring in 2009 with the rank of Captain . Northwest Airlines career . Cravaack moved to Africa and began working as a pilot for Northwest Airlines in 1990 . He was out of work for two years in the early 1990s due to strikes , layoff s , and the bankruptcy of Northwest , during which time he gave flying lessons . While working as a pilot for Northwest , he was noted for his determination and goal - oriented , linear thinking . He was a union steward for the Airline Pilots Association . He served as a " strike coordinator " during the 1998 pilots ' strike , bringing military discipline and parade - ground style marching to the picket lines . He and his family settled in Lindstrom , northeast of Minneapolis . He retired from Northwest in 2007 due to sleep apnea , receiving a $ 79 , 000 per year as medical disability pension , and becoming a stay - at - home dad for a time . In addition , Cravaack has said he drew unemployment benefits during a furlough from Northwest in the early 1990s . He was inspired to run for Congress by a suggestion from a talk radio show host that voters demand town hall meeting s with their congressmen during the health care bill Tea Party movement protests of August 2009 . Cravaack went with 25 people to one of Oberstar ' s Minnesota offices asking for a meeting that day and when Oberstar did not come , Cravaack decided to challenge him in the November 2010 election . U . S . House of Representatives . Elections . Cravaack entered the race as a political novice and an underdog . The 8th had been in Democratic hands since , and Oberstar was the longest - serving Congressman in Minnesota ' s history , usually cruising to re ‑ election . Geography also seemed to be against Cravaack as well ; his home in Lindstrom is located in Chisago County , in the southern portion of the district . According to the " Star Tribune " , Cravaack ' s campaign was " structured like a military operation " . He toured the district in a motor home dubbed " The War Wagon , " and ranked volunteers with titles such as commander , captain , and precinct lieutenant . He discovered that his experience as a union steward attracted the interest of district voters , especially the miner s . Cravaack campaigned on a platform of free - market principles and government spending cuts . He attacked Oberstar ' s vote on the health care bill , saying he would vote to repeal and replace it , and called an Oberstar - approved extension of the Clean Water Act to include wet meadows , a " land grab " by the federal government . He criticized the earmark process that Oberstar had used to fund infrastructure projects in the district , saying it was time for the spending to stop . Cravaack also attacked Oberstar ' s vote on " cap and trade " legislation to limit carbon emissions , saying it would result in higher energy prices . In his first ad , Cravaack paid homage to Oberstar ' s service , saying that he ran against Oberstar " with all due respect , " but accused him of having lost touch with the district . A candidate debate held in Duluth featured a crowd that jeered Oberstar , with Oberstar calling for a more civil atmosphere at the next debate . The second debate centered on economic issues . Cravaack argued that the 2003 Bush tax cuts should be continued on all tax bracket s to stimulate employment , and Oberstar said he would end the tax cut for the top two percent of earners , because the lowered tax had caused part of the deficit . A poll conducted for KSTP - TV in the Twin Cities in October showed Oberstar ahead of Cravaack by only one point , 47 to 46 percent . Cravaack received the endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich as the polls tightened . He was also endorsed by Minnesota ' s largest pro - life organization , Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life , and the largest newspaper in the district , the " Duluth News Tribune " . In the November 2 election , Cravaack scored one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota political history , defeating Oberstar by only 4 , 400 votes , 48 percent to 47 percent . Cravaack believed the abortion issue was crucial to his victory ; he had argued that the health care legislation that Oberstar had voted for allowed for the payment of abortions with taxpayer funds , and encouraged euthanasia for the elderly . By the time he won the election , Cravaack had modified his view of the bill , saying that it was an example of socialized medicine that will result in the rationing of medical care . Cravaack was defeated by Democratic nominee Rick Nolan , a former U . S . Representative for the 6th district . Tenure . Following his election in November 2010 , Cravaack backed fellow Minnesota Representative , Michele Bachmann for the number four GOP leadership position of House Republican Conference chair . In March 2011 , Cravaack came under criticism by Duluth students and community leaders for his vote in favor of a budget bill making drastic cuts to the federal Pell Grant program that provides financial aid to college students , including 30 percent of the students at the University of Minnesota Duluth . He also came to press attention for implying during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was furthering the goals of a terrorist organization . In March 2012 Cravaack introduced a bill in Congress that would allow mining and logging in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest through a land exchange that would bypass environmental reviews , with proceeds going to the school districts . He also sponsored a bill , which became law that the TSA ensures that military personnel were treated with respect while traveling on orders or while wearing their uniforms . “ The bill ’ s intent , he said , is that the military personnel would be able to go through security with the same ease as registered flyers . ” He is against sequestration and voted against the Budget Control Act , stating “ You cut with a scalpel not a meat ax . " Cravaak ran for 2012 reelection and was endorsed by Mesabi Daily News in Virginia and Duluth News Tribune . In the elections held on November 6 , 2012 Cravaak was defeated for reelection by 9 points by Democratic former Congressman Rick Nolan . Personal life . Cravaack is married and is the father of two boys . His wife works for a pharmaceutical company , but does not do any lobbying in Washington , D . C . His wife and children live in New Hampshire , which Cravaack said is attributed to his son ’ s autistic condition and to be closer to take care of his family while he was in Washington , although he continues to reside in Minnesota .