Iron Range Native Will Fight to Lower Costs and Protect Working Families
EVELETH, MN— Luke Gulbranson announced his candidacy for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, launching a campaign grounded in his Iron Range upbringing and focused on lowering costs, protecting essential programs, and expanding access to affordable healthcare.
His campaign announcement video, The Ice, tells how hockey and his community prepared him to fight on behalf of northern Minnesota. Watch here.
Born and raised in Eveleth, Minnesota, Luke and his family have deep ties to the area. His great-grandfather worked as a foreman at the Oliver Mine, his father was a member of Operating Engineers Local 49, and his mother worked as a nurse caregiver.
Growing up in a working-class family, Gulbranson experienced the challenges many northern Minnesotans still face today — including periods of financial hardship and reliance on food assistance and Medicaid.
“Hockey, family, and community shaped who I am,” Gulbranson said. “I know what it’s like to worry about putting food on the table or paying the electric bill. I’ve lived the challenges so many families in this district are facing right now. I’m running for Congress to make sure no one is forgotten and to fight for an economy and healthcare system that actually works for us.”
Phill Drobnick, an Eveleth, Minnesota native and USA Olympic Curling coach, endorsed Gulbranson’s campaign, citing his roots and work ethic.
“Luke knows what it’s like to grow up in a household where every dollar matters. He’s seen firsthand how rising costs and an uneven economy hurt families on the Iron Range. That’s why he’s focused on lowering the cost of essentials and making sure the system works for working people—not just the top 1%.
In my experience coaching at the Olympic level, success comes down to discipline, trust, and putting the team first. Luke brings that same mindset – and Northern Minnesota needs that kind of leadership in Congress .”
About Luke
Luke Gulbranson’s roots run deep in the red dirt of the Iron Range, starting with his great-grandfather who was a foreman at the Oliver mine. Born and raised in Eveleth, Minnesota, he is the son of Lyle, an Operating Engineers Local 49 union member, and Cindy, a nurse caregiver. In a community defined by hockey and home to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Luke began skating at just two years old.
Growing up, life wasn’t easy for Luke and his family. There were times when they relied on food assistance, Medicaid, and support from their community to get by. The sting of an electricity shut-off notice, the long winters when heat was uncertain, and the resilience it took to push through were recurring challenges his family faced.
Hockey became Luke’s lifeline. He learned discipline, grit, and the value of teamwork. But at 19, a head injury forced him to chart a new course. Luke found a new path in media, and he supported himself through acting and modeling. While the experience broadened his horizons and exposed him to a world far beyond northern Minnesota, he always felt the call of Minnesota to come back home.
During the pandemic, Luke returned to Eveleth to build a new chapter of his life. He constructed his home in the woods with his own two hands, and he lives there today, grounded in the same community that raised him. He is a youth hockey coach, small businessman, outdoorsman, and woodworker who spends his days tapping maple trees, running the trails with his border collie Trapper, riding motorcycles and picking his guitar.
He lives a short drive from his parents, where he sees them face the challenges of so many families in northern Minnesota – balancing their household needs on a fixed income and increasing financial strain. Luke’s family has faced serious health challenges, including cancer and physical disability. They’ve seen firsthand how rising healthcare and, especially, prescription drug costs, put an enormous strain on health and wellbeing.
In Congress, Luke will fight for what matters to Minnesota families because this is personal for him. He won’t let the rigged system that benefits billionaires and corporate special interests end our way of life. For more information, visit www.lukegulbranson.com.
