2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2010 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 2, 2010. All eight congressional seats in the state's delegation were contested. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 112th United States Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial, 2010 Minnesota House elections and 2010 Minnesota Senate elections occurred on the same date, as well as many local elections and ballot initiatives. The 111th congressional delegation from the U.S. state of Minnesota had five Democratic Farmer Labor Party members (DFLers) and 3 Republicans. All the incumbents were reelected except District 8's Jim Oberstar, who was defeated in his bid for a 19th term. This left Minnesota with an equal number of Democratic and Republican representatives. == Overview == === Statewide === The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota. === By district === Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district: == District 1 == Incumbent Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 62.5% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+1. No primary elections were held in the 1st congressional district in 2010. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Randy Demmer, state representative and candidate for this seat in 2008 ===== Withdrawn ===== Jim Engstrand, Minnesota Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel and Iraq veteran Jim Hagedorn, former congressional affairs officer for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and son of former U.S. Representative Tom Hagedorn Frank McKinzie, veteran Allen Quist, former state representative and candidate for governor in 1994 & 1998 ==== Campaign ==== Shortly after launching his campaign, Quist attracted controversy for a speech he gave at the Wabasha County Republicans' December 7 Christmas Party, in which he said: "Our country is being destroyed. Every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom... Terrorism? Yes. That's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals. They aren't liberals. They are radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz: they’re not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country." He also spoke against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, saying: "This is the most insidious, evil piece of legislation I have ever seen in my life... Every one of us has to be totally committed to killing this travesty... I have to kill this bill." === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Steve Wilson, state department diplomat and former Republican candidate for state senator in 2006 === Independents === Lars Johnson, food safety certification trainer === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Polling ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Walz won the general election on November 2 with 49% of the vote to Demmer's 44%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 2 == Incumbent Republican John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 57.3% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+4. === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative ==== Results ==== === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Shelley Madore, former state representative ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Dan Powers, construction contractor and candidate for this seat in 2008 ==== Campaign ==== Despite losing the DFL endorsement to Powers, Madore remained in the race, much to the anger of a number of party loyalists. She was boosted by questions about Powers's résumé. ==== Results ==== === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Kline won the general election on November 2, 63% to 37%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 3 == Incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for reelection. He was elected with 48.5% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of Even. No primary elections were held in the 3rd congressional district in 2010. === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Erik Paulsen, incumbent U.S. Representative === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Jim Meffert, former President of the Minnesota Parent-Teacher Association ===== Withdrawn ===== Maureen Hackett, Air Force veteran and forensic psychiatrist ===== Declined ===== Terri Bonoff, state senator and candidate for this seat in 2008 === General election === ==== Campaign ==== Meffert lacked the funds to afford television advertising, but he gained some name recognition from the Paulsen campaign's attack ads. Political analyst David Schultz said, "Given how little money that Meffert has, you would've thought Paulsen would've just ignored Meffert completely and just run a positive campaign." Meffert responded to the attack: "It's the kind of thing that makes people cynical about politics and politicians when you hide behind a big bank account and you throw up an ad that's designed to tear down your opponent." After the Paulsen campaign included a misleading graph in a mailing, Meffert filed an ethics complaint against Paulsen. ===== Endorsements ===== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Paulsen won the general election on November 2, 59% to 37%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 4 == Incumbent Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for reelection. She was reelected with 68.4% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of D+13. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Diana Longrie, attorney and former Mayor of Maplewood ==== Results ==== === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Teresa Collett, law professor at the University of St. Thomas ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his dental office ==== Results ==== === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Steve Carlson, consultant and writer ==== Results ==== === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== McCollum won the general election on November 2, 59% to 35%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details[link removed] from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 5 == Incumbent Keith Ellison, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for reelection. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress. He was reelected with 67.7% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of D+23. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran Barb Davis White, minister, author, civil rights activist and Republican nominee for this seat in 2008 ==== Results ==== === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Joel Demos, banker ==== Results ==== === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Tom Schrunk, artist and designer ==== Results ==== === Other candidates === Michael Cavlan, political activist, registered nurse and Green nominee for U.S. Senate in 2006 (Independent Progressive) Lynne Torgerson, attorney and candidate for State House, District 59A in 2008 (Independent) === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Ellison won the general election on November 2, 68% to 24%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside Spending ===== External links Race ranking and details[link removed] from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 6 == Incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for reelection. She was reelected with 46.4% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+7. === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative ==== Results ==== === Democratic primary === The DFL endorsed Tarryl Clark, the state senate assistant majority leader. She was Bachmann's sole Democratic challenger, Maureen Reed having dropped out of the race in June. A physician and former University of Minnesota regent chair, Reed threw her support behind Clark, saying she felt "it is time for the DFL to unify behind one candidate in this race". ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Tarryl Clark, state senator and assistant majority leader of the Minnesota State Senate ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Maureen Reed, physician, former chair of the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and Independence nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2006 ===== Withdrawn ===== Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation and nominee for this seat in 2008 ==== Results ==== === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Bob Anderson, dental technician ==== Results ==== === Other candidates === Aubrey Immelman, associate professor of psychology and Republican candidate for this seat in 2008 (Independent) === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Polling ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Bachmann won the general election on November 2, 52% to 38%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 7 == Incumbent Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 72.2% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+5. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative ==== Results ==== === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Lee Byberg, business executive ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Alan Roebke, farmer and candidate for this seat in 2008 ===== Withdrawn ===== Glen Menze, accountant and nominee for this seat in 2008 ==== Results ==== === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Glen Menze, accountant and Republican nominee for this seat in 2008 ==== Results ==== === Other candidates === Gene Waldorf, former DFL state senator (Independent) === General election === ==== Endorsements ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== Peterson won the general election on November 2, 55% to 38%. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside spending ===== External links Race ranking and details[link removed] from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == District 8 == Incumbent Jim Oberstar, who had represented the district since 1975, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 67.7% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of D+3. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative ===== Eliminated in primary ===== W. D. (Bill) Ham, chair of the Freedom Coalition of Minnesota ==== Results ==== === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Chip Cravaack, former Northwest Airlines pilot ===== Withdrawn ===== Michael Cummins, small business owner and nominee for this seat in 2008 (withdrew February 2010 endorsed Cravaack) Justin Eichorn, small business owner Rob Fransworth, special education teacher Darrel Trulson, business owner ==== Results ==== === Independence primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Timothy Olson, sawmill operator ==== Results ==== === Constitution primary === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Richard (George) Burton, electrician === General election === ==== Campaign ==== Cravaack entered the race as the underdog. He was a political novice and Democrats had held the 8th district since 1947. Oberstar was the longest-serving congressman in Minnesota history and had never received less than 59% of the vote. Cravaack campaigned on a standard Republican platform of free-market principles and government spending cuts while attacking Oberstar's vote for the ACA. He later claimed that Obamacare allowed for the payment of abortions with taxpayer funds and encouraged euthanasia for the elderly and was an example of socialized medicine that would result in the rationing of medical care, all of which lacked any supporting evidence. ===== Endorsements ===== ==== Polling ==== ==== Predictions ==== ==== Results ==== In what MinnPost called one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota political history, Cravaack defeated Oberstar by 4,399 votes. ==== Finances ==== ===== Campaigns ===== ===== Outside Spending ===== External links Race ranking and details[link removed] from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times == References == == External links == Minnesota Historical Election Archive Elections & Voting from the Minnesota Secretary of State Official candidate list 2010 General election results 2010 Primary elections results 2010 Candidate filings U.S. Congress candidates for Minnesota at Project Vote Smart Minnesota U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for Minnesota congressional races from OpenSecrets 2010 Minnesota General Election graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Campaign 2010 at Minnesota Public Radio News