Former Minnesota congressman Rick Nolan has died at age 80

Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who represented two of Minnesota's congressional districts in Washington more than 30 years apart, has died at the age of 80.

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party confirmed Nolan's death in a statement, calling him a “champion of the Northland who fought fiercely to protect working people from corporate interests.”

The date and cause of Nolan's death were not immediately announced.

“From Ely to Duluth, he was an ambassador of the DFL belief: “We all do better when we all do better.” “Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who knew and loved this dedicated public servant,” says the DFL statement.

Nolan was known for his support of mining and his work in health care – including his efforts to improve lung cancer detection, care, coverage and research. It was a very personal cause after his daughter Katherine battled lung cancer for more than five years before she died in 2020.

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U.S. Sen. Tina Smith noted Nolan's advocacy on the issue in a statement commemorating Nolan.

“Rick loved his family, his co-workers and his country, and he turned that love into energy,” Smith wrote.

Two stays in Congress

Nolan was born in Brainerd and served on the staff of then U.S. Senator Walter Mondale in the late 1960s. After serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Minnesota's 6th District in 1972. He then won election to the seat in 1974, as part of a Democratic wave following the Watergate scandal. He served three terms before deciding not to seek re-election in 1980.

In 1979, Nolan made headlines when he helped launch a movement to persuade Ted Kennedy to run for president – Kennedy later challenged incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter – even though his fellow Minnesotan Walter Mondale was Carter's was vice president.

Nolan said he was worried that Carter would lose the 1980 election – which he did, to Republican Ronald Reagan.

“I feel terrible about what this is doing to Fritz (Walter) Mondale. “He’s one of the people I most admired and respected in public life,” Nolan told MPR News at the time, speaking about one of his political mentors. “Unfortunately, I think it's fair to say that he is a victim of the Carter policies just as the American people were a victim of the Carter policies.” Unfortunately, Fritz Mondale is not the president. Jimmy Carter is the president.”

In the 1980s, Nolan was hired by Gov. Rudy Perpich to create the Minnesota World Trade Center — a business development organization designed to attract international investment to the state — and served as chairman from 1987 to 1994.

More than 30 years after leaving Congress, Nolan entered the race for Minnesota's 8th District in the 2012 election. The 8th District seat was held for decades by Democratic Representative Jim Oberstar, who was ousted in 2010 by Republican challenger Chip Cravaack.

Nolan defeated Cravaack decisively, telling the crowd on election night that it was a strange but familiar feeling, despite the long absence from Congress.

“I guess Yogi Berra would say, 'It feels like déjà vu all over again,'” he said.

In 2014 and 2016, Nolan narrowly defeated Republican Stewart Mills. In 2018, Nolan did not seek re-election.

In his final year in Congress, Nolan was Attorney General Lori Swanson's nominee in her run for governor of Minnesota in 2018; They lost in the DFL primary to Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan.

“Unique”

Other elected officials, colleagues and friends shared their memories of Nolan on Friday.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild, who represents a district in northern Minnesota, posted on social media Friday that Nolan was “one of a kind.”

“No one fought harder for the place he loved than him. “His eternal optimism was contagious and he always spent his capital developing future leaders,” Hauschild wrote.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar released a statement calling Nolan “an incredible friend who has dedicated his life to public service and his family.”

“With his booming voice and passion for people, Rick was a unique leader,” Klobuchar wrote. “He was the comeback kid. He went from being one of the youngest members of Congress to one of the oldest freshmen when he was sworn in again at 69. He was a consummate lover of nature, a lover of work, and he never forgot where he came from.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who served alongside Nolan in Congress, remembered him as “a giant in northern Minnesota and in Congress, a tireless champion of working people, and his speeches could blow the roof off.” It was an honor to serve Minnesotans alongside him.”

“Rick Nolan was a powerhouse for the Iron Range. “I will always remember how he targeted Obama’s chief of staff, Denis McDonough, to enforce tariffs on illegal steel to protect steelworkers’ jobs,” said Justin Perpich, former DFL 8th District Chairman and former Nolan campaign manager. “He was also a tireless advocate for health care for all and a forceful voice for the working class in D.C. There was no one like him when it came to retail politics, Rick knew how to manage a space or a parade route like no one else.” Today Minnesota lost a true champion. My deepest condolences go out to his wife Mary and the entire Nolan family.”