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Not long ago, Minnesota's 8th Congressional District was considered a DFL stronghold.

But that's began to change in recent years. Republican Chip Cravaack unexpectedly beat longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar in 2010 after conservative areas closer to the Twin Cities were added to the huge district.

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Although the DFLs regained the seat two years ago with U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan's defeat of Cravaack, Democrats say they can no longer take the northeastern part of the state for granted anymore.

With that in mind, this year Democrats and their allies are making a big push to turn out voters in the area, which state DFL Party Chair Ken Martin considers key to this election year.

Rep. Rick Nolan is in a tough race with Republican Stewart Mills, and Democrats need to protect key legislative seats to keep control of the Minnesota House.

On top of that, Martin has to make sure Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Sen. Al Franken do well on the Iron Range so they win statewide.

"It is a very strategically important part of our plan to win," Martin said. "You have this rare confluence of all of these things coming together that make the 8th ground zero for Democrats this year."

The 8th District stretches from the northern Twin Cities suburbs to the Canadian border and west to Bemidji. The party is expected to spend an unprecedented amount of money in the area this fall.

Martin won't say how much. But the money will pay for a barrage of mailers, phone calls, television ads and an extensive door-knocking campaign.

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Democrats and their allies redouble efforts in changing 8th District