2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

District 1

This district extended across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was elected with 53% of the vote in 2006, defeating 6-term Republican Gil Gutknecht in somewhat of a surprise victory. The district had a PVI of R+1.

Democratic primary

Walz, a former teacher and command sergeant major in the National Guard, had no opponent in the race for the DFL nomination for the seat in the September 12, 2008 primary election.

Candidates

Nominee

• Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brian J. Davis, Mayo Clinic physician

Eliminated in primary

• Dick Day, state senator and former state senate Majority Leader (1997–2007)

Withdrawn

• Randy Demmer, state representative
• Mark Meyer, actuary, lawyer and member of the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School Board

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gregory Mikkelson, small business owner, farmer, nominee for this seat in 2004, Green nominee for this seat in 2002 and Republican candidate in 2006

Results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Citizens for Global Solutions
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club
• VoteVets

Predictions

Results

Walz won a second term, garnering 62.5% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 2

Kline:
Sarvi:
Tie:

This district spans the width of the entire southern metro area and contains all of Carver, Scott, Le Sueur, Goodhue and Rice counties and most of Dakota County. Incumbent Republican John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.2% of the vote in 2006. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Republican primary

Republican John Kline held on to the second district seat in 2006, defeating DFL challenger, former FBI agent Coleen Rowley. The district Republican lean, Kline's unwavering support for Bush and the Iraq War did not make him appear too vulnerable to a challenger in 2008.

Candidates

Nominee

• John Kline, incumbent U.S. representative

Democratic primary

On October 4, 2007, Iraq War veteran Steve Sarvi announced he would challenge Kline for the seat. His experience also included being mayor of Watertown, Minnesota and city administrator for Victoria, Minnesota. He believed that a change in U.S. policy in Iraq was needed. On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party.

Candidates

Nominee

• Steve Sarvi, Iraq War veteran and former mayor of Watertown

Withdrawn

• Dan Powers, construction contractor

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• NRA Political Victory Fund

U.S. representatives

• Tim Walz, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–present)
• Betty McCollum, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 4th congressional district (2001–present)
• Keith Ellison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–present)
• Jim Oberstar, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (1975–present)
• Donald M. Fraser, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (1963–1979) and former Mayor of Minneapolis (1980–1994)

State legislators

• Harry A. Sieben, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
• Jim Carlson, state senator
• Kevin Dahle, state senator
• Sharon Marko, former state senator
• Steve Murphy, state senator
• Katie Sieben, state senator
• Joe Atkins, state representative
• Karla Bigham, state representative

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• American Federation of Government Employees
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
• Communication Workers of America
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• International Union of Operating Engineers
• Laborers' International Union of North America
• Minnesota Nurses Association
• Service Employees International Union
• United Food and Commercial Workers
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Alliance for Retired Americans
• Citizens for Global Solutions
• Clean Water Action
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program
• Education Minnesota
• Independence Party of Minnesota
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club
• Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy
• VoteVets

Predictions

Results

Kline won garnering 57.3% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 3

Paulsen:
Madia:

This district encompasses the suburbs of Hennepin County to the north, west, and south of Minneapolis. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, announced on September 17, 2007, that he would not seek re-election in 2008. He was re-elected with 64.9% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of Even.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Erik Paulsen, state representative from district 42B since 1995, and former Minnesota House Majority Leader (2003–2007)

Declined

• Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Pro-business and centrist state senator Terri Bonoff entered the race as the favourite to win the nomination, raising about $300,000 in the first several months of her campaign. However political newcomer (and former Republican) Ashwin Madia was able to defeat her at the nominating convention, prompting her withdrawal.

Candidates

Nominee

• Ashwin Madia, attorney and Iraq War veteran

Withdrawn

• Terri Bonoff, state senator
• Jim Hovland, mayor of Edina (withdrew March 2008)

Endorsements

Labor unions

• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Organizations

• Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
• EMILYs List
• Minnesota Forward

U.S. representatives

• Keith Ellison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–present)

Organizations

• VoteVets

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• David Dillon, businessman

Eliminated in primary

• Steev Ramsdell, massage therapy center operator

Results

Constitution primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Harley Swarm, mechanical engineer

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• NRA Political Victory Fund

U.S. representatives

• Keith Ellison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–present)

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club
• Stonewall Democrats
• Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy
• VoteVets

Polling

Predictions

Results

Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 4

McCollum:
Matthews:

This district covers most of Ramsey County including all of Saint Paul and several Saint Paul suburbs. Incumbent Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 69.5% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ed Matthews, attorney

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Citizens for Global Solutions
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club
• Stonewall Democrats

Organizations

• Republican Liberty Caucus

Predictions

Results

McCollum won the race, garnering 68.4% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 5

Ellison:

This district covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. Incumbent Democrat Keith Ellison, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was elected with 55.6% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of D+21. He was the first African American U.S. representative from Minnesota as well as the first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Barb Davis White, minister, author, and civil rights activist

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• William (Bill) McGaughey, landlord and candidate for U.S. Senator 2002

Results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Citizens for Global Solutions
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club
• Stonewall Democrats

Organizations

• Republican Liberty Caucus

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 6

Bachmann:
Tinklenberg:
Tie:

This district includes most or all of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Anoka, and Washington counties. Incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. She was elected with 50.1% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of R+5.

Republican primary

Bachmann won a hard-fought battle against Patty Wetterling in 2006, with the help of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney campaigning on her behalf and a multimillion-dollar warchest.

Candidates

Nominee

• Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Aubrey Immelman, associate professor of psychology

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation (1999–2002), former mayor of Blaine, former Methodist minister and candidate for this seat in 2006

Withdrawn

• Bob Olson, banker, tax lawyer and nominee for this seat in 1994

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bob Anderson, dental technician

Results

General election

Campaign

Bachmann's charges about "anti-American views" shifted the political dynamics of this campaign, giving a lift to Tinklenberg's candidacy and attracting $1.3 million in new contributions, plus $1 million from the DNC. At the same time, the RNC withdrew media buys on behalf of Bachmann.

Endorsements

Organizations

• Eagle Forum
• NRA Political Victory Fund

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Organizations

• Stonewall Democrats

Polling

Predictions

CQ Politics changed its forecast from 'Republican Favored' to 'Leans Republican' on October 20, and then to 'No Clear Favorite' on October 28. The Cook Political Report then rated it as 'Republican Toss Up'.

Results

Despite the controversy, Bachmann was re-elected, garnering 46.4% of the vote to Tinklenberg's 43.4% and Anderson's 10%.

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 7

This district covers almost all of the western side of Minnesota from the Canada–US border down to Lincoln County, and is the largest district in the state. Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of R+6.

Democratic primary

As chair of the House Agriculture Committee, 9-term DFLer Collin Peterson is at home in this mostly-agricultural district. Although the district leans Republican, Peterson's social conservatism and farmer/labor DFL values served him well in his district.

Candidates

Nominee

• Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Glen Menze, accountant and nominee for this seat in 2000

Eliminated in primary

• Alan Roebke, farmer and convicted felon

Results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition
• NRA Political Victory Fund

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 8

Oberstar:
Cummins:
Tie:

This district covers the northeastern part of Minnesota and includes Duluth, Hibbing, and the Mesabi Range. Incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar, who had represented the district since 1975, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 63.6% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of D+4.

Democratic primary

Seventeen-term veteran DFLer, Jim Oberstar was Minnesota's senior representative. In 2006, former Republican U.S. Senator Rod Grams challenged Oberstar, garnering 34% of the vote. In 2008, 74-year-old Oberstar maintained his popularity among his constituency. The district leaned Democratic owing to the loyalty of miners, loggers, and farmers to the DFL.

On May 3, 2008, the 8th District DFL endorsed Oberstar for another term.

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michael Cummins, small business owner

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Citizens for Global Solutions
• NRA Political Victory Fund

Organizations

• Republican Liberty Caucus

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

References

References

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