2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

District 1

Gutknecht:
Andreasen:
Tie:

After redistricting the new 1st district was made of approximately 75% from the old 1st with 25% from the old 2nd. Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.4% of the vote in 2000.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Steve Andreasen, former Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council (1993-2001).

Withdrawn

• Todd Rasmussen, banker and Winona school board member

Results

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gregory Mikkelson, small business owner and farmer

Results

General election

Campaign

The major issues of the campaign included the Iraq War, agriculture, and medical care.

Predictions

Results

Gutknecht easily won a fifth term, defeating second-place Pomeroy by a landslide 26.85 percent margin, as Mikkelson finished at a very distant third.

Finances

District 2

Kline:
Luther:
Tie:

During the reapportionment that occurred in consequence of the 2000 United States census, the old 2nd district was broken up with the largest portion being transferred to the redrawn 7th. The new 2nd was based in the southern metro area and comprised approximately 41% from the old 6th, 22% from the old 2nd, 22% from the old 1st, 14% from the old 3rd and 1% from the old 4th.

Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy, who's residence in Watertown remained in the 2nd decided to transfer to the new 6th.

Bill Luther, the incumbent Democrat from the old 6th district opted to transfer to the new 2nd, despite his home in Stillwater remaining in the 6th, in order to avoid a match up with Kennedy.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Kline, retired United States Marine Corps Colonel and nominee for the 6th district in 1998 & 2000

Declined

• Mark Kennedy, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 6th district)
• Steve Sviggum, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Results

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bill Luther, incumbent U.S. Representative from the 6th district

Declined

• Steve Murphy, state senator
• Bob Vanasek, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Results

Other Candidates

• Samuel Garst (No New Taxes), marketing consultant, DFL nominee for State House, District 33B in 1998 and for State Senate, District 33 in 2000

General election

Campaign

Luther, who was first elected to Congress in 1994, was unchallenged in the DFL primary. However, in the general election against Republican challenger John Kline, the more conservative composition of the new district worked against him. Luther's campaign was further harmed by political fallout that was created when Samuel Garst, a Luther campaign staffer, entered the race on the "No New Taxes" line in an attempt to use a false flag to split the conservative vote.

Predictions

Results

In the end, Garst was only able to secure 4.3 percent of the vote, and the political damage to Luther contributed to Kline winning the election by a margin of more than 11 percent.

Finances

District 3

Ramstad:
Stanton:

After redistricting the new 3rd district was made of approximately 87% from the old 3rd with 10% from the old 6th and 3% from the 5th. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 67.6% of the vote in 2000

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Darryl Stanton, entrepreneur, inventor and candidate for this seat in 2000

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

Ramstad won election to his seventh term in Congress, by a landslide 44.14 percent margin.

Finances

District 4

McCollum:
Billington:

The district was largely unaffected by the redistricting with the new 4th district was made of approximately 92% from the old 4th with 8% from the old 6th. Incumbent Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for re-election. She was elected with 48.0% of the vote in 2000.

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Clyde Billington, history professor at University of Northwestern – St. Paul and chair of the 4th District Republican Party.

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Peter Vento, Antique store owner and son of former U.S. Representative Bruce Vento

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Scott Raskiewicz, substitute public school teacher

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

Defeating Billington by a comfortable 28 percent margin, McCollum easily won her second term in Congress, as Raskiewicz finished a very distant third.

Finances

District 5

Sabo:
Mathias:

Incumbent Democrat Martin Olav Sabo, who had represented the district since 1979, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69.2% of the vote in 2000.

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Martin Olav Sabo, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Daniel Mathias, courier driver and part time college professor

Results

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tim Davis, environmental activist and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1994 and for U.S. Senate in 1996

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

Sabo had no difficulty winning his 13th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Nielsen Mathias by a margin of just over 41 percent, while Green candidate Tim Davis finished a distant third.

Finances

District 6

Kennedy:
Robert:

In the reapportionment that occurred in consequence of the 2000 United States census, the old 6th was effectively split into two main parts, with approximately 50% forming the core of the redrawn seat and the next largest portion (around 41%) becoming part of the new 2nd. The new 6th also contained 24% from the old 7th, 14% from the 2nd, 10% from the 8th and 3% from the 3rd.

Incumbent Democrat Bill Luther, who had represented the district since 1995, opted to move to the new 2nd and run for re-election there, after Mark Kennedy, the incumbent Republican from the old 2nd, decided to contest the redrawn 6th.

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Janet Robert, attorney and former Oak Park Heights City Council member

Declined

• Bill Luther, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 2nd district)

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Kennedy, incumbent U.S. Representative from the 2nd district

Withdrawn

• David Reichow, consultant

Declined

• Rod Grams, former U.S. Senator
• Dave Kleis, state senator
• Dan Stevens, state senator (running in the 7th district)

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dan Becker, state-licensed drug and alcohol counselor

Results

General election

Campaign

Corporate ethics became a major theme of the campaign with both Kennedy and Robert running attack ads linking the other to lawsuits involving companies they had worked for.

Predictions

Results

Kennedy, who was first elected in 2000, encountered little difficulty in winning his second term in Congress, defeating DFL challenger Janet Robert by a landslide margin of 22.28 percent, while Independence Party candidate Dan Becker finished a distant third.

Finances

District 7

Peterson:
Stevens:
Tie:

Following redistricting approximately 62% from the old 7th remained with 38% from the old 2nd transferring in. Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68.7% of the vote in 2000.

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dan Stevens, state senator

Withdrawn

• Brad Monson
• Leroy Schlangen, dairy farmer

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

Peterson faced no difficulty winning his 8th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Dan Stevens by a landslide 30.63 percent margin.

Finances

District 8

Oberstar:
Lemen:
Tie:

The 8th district remained mostly untouched by the redistricting with approximately 91% of the new seat remaining, with 9% added from the old 7th. Incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar, who had represented the district since 1975, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 67.8% of the vote in 2000.

DFL primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Robert N. Lemen, businessman, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2000

Eliminated in primary

• Warren Nelson, engineering consultant and candidate for this seat in 2000

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

Oberstar had no difficulty winning his 15th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Bob Lemen by a margin of more than 37 percent.

Finances

References

References

1. "Home - Election Results".
2. (28 March 2002). "DFLer says he'll run against Gutknecht". Brainerd Dispatch.
3. "Home - Election Results".
4. (8 September 2006). "PROFILES Gutknecht, Mikkelson seek GOP banner". Post-Bulletin.
5. (7 August 2002). "Congressional candidates vie for Farmfest voters". Minnesota Public Radio.
6. (11 October 2002). "In 1st District, farming is king. But voters focus on Iraq". Minnesota Public Radio.
7. (6 November 2002). "50 most competitive House races of 2002". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
8. (14 October 2002). "2002 Senate, House and Governor Ratings". The New York Times.
9. (12 September 2002). "Redistricting has confused voters". Minnesota Public Radio.
10. (25 March 2002). "Kennedy opts for 6th District, and possible bout with Luther". Minnesota Public Radio.
11. (13 May 2002). "Luther opts for 2nd District". Minnesota Public Radio.
12. (22 August 2002). "Luther, Kline get heated in TV debate". Minnesota Public Radio.
13. (27 August 2002). "Second District candidates differ on war with Iraq". Minnesota Public Radio.
14. (21 October 2002). "Candidates in Minnesota's 2nd District battle over the economy". Minnesota Public Radio.
15. (24 October 2002). "Luther, Kline face off in 2nd District debate". Minnesota Public Radio.
16. (17 July 2002). "Peter Vento, son of late congressman, files for dad's seat". Associated Press.
17. (18 July 2002). "Vento's son withdraws from race for Congress". Brainerd Dispatch.
18. (23 August 2002). "Focus on the 6th District". Minnesota Public Radio.
19. (25 September 2002). "Attack ads in 6th District focus on corporate ethics". Minnesota Public Radio.
20. (9 October 2002). "Sixth district race heats up". Minnesota Public Radio.
21. (17 May 2002). "In redrawn 7th District, GOP looks to make a move". Minnesota Public Radio.
22. (20 February 2002). "Farmer to trade cows for ballots". Paynesville Press.