2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Minnesota. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.[1]
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November 6, 2012
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All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
| Party | Candidates | Votes[2] | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | +/– | % | |||
| Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 8 | 1,560,984 | 55.48 | 5 |  1 |
62.50 | |
| Republican | 8 | 1,210,409 | 43.02 | 3 |  1 |
37.50 | |
| Independence | 2 | 36,433 | 1.29 | 0 |  |
0.0 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 5,557 | 0.20 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Total | 26 | 2,813,383 | 100.0 | 8 | |
100.0 | |
By district
Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:
| District | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| District 1 | 193,211 | 57.52% | 142,164 | 42.33% | 505 | 0.15% | 335,880 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 2 | 164,338 | 45.85% | 193,587 | 54.01% | 521 | 0.15% | 358,446 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 159,937 | 41.79% | 222,335 | 58.10% | 433 | 0.11% | 382,705 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 216,685 | 62.27% | 109,659 | 31.51% | 21,647 | 6.22% | 347,991 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 5 | 262,102 | 74.47% | 88,753 | 25.22% | 1,114 | 0.32% | 351,969 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 174,944 | 49.26% | 179,240 | 50.47% | 969 | 0.27% | 355,153 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 197,791 | 60.38% | 114,151 | 34.85% | 15,634 | 4.77% | 327,576 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 8 | 191,976 | 54.28% | 160,520 | 45.39% | 1,167 | 0.33% | 353,663 | 100.0% | Democratic gain |
| Total | 1,560,984 | 55.48% | 1,210,409 | 43.02% | 41,990 | 1.49% | 2,813,383 | 100.0% | |
Redistricting
A redistricting plan was proposed by Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature on May 9, 2011.[3] The plan was passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives on May 13[4] and the Minnesota Senate on May 18,[5] but was vetoed by Democratic Governor Mark Dayton on May 19.[6]
In February 2012, a state court panel redrew Minnesota's congressional boundaries with the effect of enacting a "least-change" map.[7]
District 1
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  Precinct results Walz: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Quist: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 2007, sought re-election. In redistricting, Murray County, Pipestone County and half of Cottonwood County were moved from the 1st district to the 7th, and Wabasha County was moved from the 1st district to the 2nd, while Le Sueur County and most of Rice County were moved from the 2nd district to the 1st. The 1st district was expected to continue to slightly favor Republicans.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz (incumbent) | 15,697 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 15,697 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Allen Quist, former state representative from legislative district 23B (1983–1989), candidate for governor in 1994 & 1998 and for this seat in 2010[9]
Eliminated in primary
- Mike Parry, state senator from senate district 26 since 2010[10]
Declined
- Randy Demmer, former state representative nominee for this seat in 2010[11]
- Steve Drazkowski, state representative[12]
- Julie Rosen, state senator[13]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Allen Quist | 12,540 | 54.1 | |
| Republican | Mike Parry | 10,622 | 45.9 | |
| Total votes | 23,162 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- Campaign for Working Families[26]
- Eagle Forum[27]
- National Right to Life Committee[28]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[29] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Walz handily dispatched Quist in the election, garnering 58% of the vote.[36]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz (incumbent) | 193,211 | 57.5 | |
| Republican | Allen Quist | 142,164 | 42.3 | |
| Write-in | 505 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 335,880 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $1,975,606 | $1,930,831 | $63,237 |
| Allen Quist (R) | $595,215 | $595,312 | $0 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $26,390 | $0 |
| Allen Quist (R) | $276 | $0 |
District 2
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 Precinct results Kline: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Obermueller: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Tie: 40–50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican John Kline, who had represented Minnesota's 2nd congressional district since 2003, sought re-election.
In redistricting, Le Sueur County and Rice County were moved from the 2nd district to the 1st, and Carver County was moved from the 2nd district to the 3rd and 6th, while West St. Paul and parts of South St. Paul were moved from the 4th district to the 2nd. The 2nd district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats, but continues to favor Republicans.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Kline, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- David Gerson, engineer
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 15,859 | 85.1 | |
| Republican | David Gerson | 2,772 | 14.9 | |
| Total votes | 18,631 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Patrick Ganey, a member of the Northfield City Council;[38] Kathleen Gaylord, a member of the Dakota County Commission;[39] former state Representative Mike Obermueller;[40] and Dan Powers, a former small business owner who unsuccessfully sought the DFL nomination in the 2nd district in 2010,[41] sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Kline. At the congressional district convention, the party endorsed Mike Obermueller.
Candidates
Nominee
- Mike Obermueller, former state representative from legislative district 38B (2009–2011)
Withdrawn
- Patrick Ganey, Northfield City Council member
- Kathleen Gaylord, Dakota County Commission member
- Dan Powers, former small business owner candidate for this seat in 2010
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Obermueller | 11,628 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 11,628 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- Campaign for Working Families[26]
- National Right to Life Committee[28]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[20]
- United States Chamber of Commerce[42]
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[14]
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- Education Minnesota[15]
- National Association of Letter Carriers[16]
- Service Employees International Union
- United Steelworkers
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund[21]
- Sierra Club[22]
Polling
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[44] | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Despite a strong challenge from Obermueller, Kline prevailed.[45]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 193,587 | 54.0 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Obermueller | 164,338 | 45.9 | |
| Write-in | 521 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 358,446 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $2,352,676 | $1,957,356 | $565,590 |
| Mike Obermueller (DFL) | $717,173 | $705,166 | $12,007 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $1,590 | $74,348 |
| Mike Obermueller (DFL) | $3,219 | $0 |
District 3
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 Precinct results Paulsen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Barnes: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican Erik Paulsen, who had represented Minnesota's 3rd congressional district since 2009 sought re-election.
In redistricting, the 3rd district was expanded to include eastern Carver County, while part of the northeastern Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area was moved to the 5th. The district was made more favorable to Republicans.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Erik Paulsen, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- John W. Howard III, biologist
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Erik Paulsen (incumbent) | 18,672 | 90.2 | |
| Republican | John W. Howard III | 2,032 | 9.8 | |
| Total votes | 20,704 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Brian Barnes, an Edina businessman and former Navy Reserve officer[46] and Sharon Sund, a Plymouth scientist and small-business owner[47] sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Paulsen. In the third district Democratic convention, Barnes won the party endorsement and Sund backed his candidacy.[48] Sund was subsequently elected chair of the Hennepin County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.[49]
Candidates
Nominee
- Brian Barnes, businessman and former Navy Reserve officer
Withdrawn
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Brian Barnes | 11,786 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 11,786 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- Campaign for Working Families[26]
- National Right to Life Committee[28]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[20]
- United States Chamber of Commerce[42]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Paulsen received 58% of the vote, defeating Barnes, who received 42%.[51][52]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Erik Paulsen (incumbent) | 222,335 | 58.1 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Brian Barnes | 159,937 | 41.8 | |
| Write-in | 433 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 382,705 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erik Paulsen (R) | $3,113,793 | $2,567,483 | $693,846 |
| Brian Barnes (DFL) | $400,435 | $397,940 | $2,494 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Erik Paulsen (R) | $5,074 | $0 |
| Brian Barnes (DFL) | $924 | $0 |
District 4
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 Precinct results McCollum: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Hernandez: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented Minnesota's 4th congressional district since 2001, sought re-election. In redistricting, the 4th district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans, but continues to strongly favor Democrats.[7]
The home of Republican U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, who had represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2007, was drawn into the 4th district in redistricting; however, Bachmann sought re-election in the 6th district.[7]
McCollum retained her seat, defeating Hernandez.[51]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Betty McCollum (incumbent) | 27,291 | 84.2 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Diana Longrie | 3,212 | 9.9 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Brian Stalboerger | 1,913 | 5.9 | |
| Total votes | 32,416 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College
Withdrawn
- Dan Flood, retired Navy officer
Declined
- Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. representative for the 6th district
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tony Hernandez | 6,876 | 64.1 | |
| Republican | Ron Seiford | 3,856 | 35.9 | |
| Total votes | 10,732 | 100.0 | ||
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Steve Carlson, development consultant, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Steve Carlson | 545 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 545 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[29] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Betty McCollum (incumbent) | 216,685 | 62.3 | |
| Republican | Tony Hernandez | 109,659 | 31.5 | |
| Independence | Steve Carlson | 21,135 | 6.1 | |
| Write-in | 512 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 347,991 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $931,990 | $942,684 | $48,014 | |
| Tony Hernandez (R) | $66,697 | $68,016 | $15 | |
| Steve Carlson (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $1,334 | $0 |
| Tony Hernandez (R) | $2,752 | $0 |
| Steve Carlson (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 5
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 Precinct results Ellison: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Fields: 50–60% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Minnesota's 5th congressional district has been represented by Democrat Keith Ellison since 2007. Gary Boisclair, an anti-abortion activist, and Gregg Iverson unsuccessfully challenged Ellison in the Democratic primary.[59] In redistricting, the 5th district was expanded to include parts of Brooklyn Center, Edina and Minnetonka, and continued to strongly favor Democrats.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- Gary Boisclair, anti-abortion activist
- Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (incumbent) | 30,609 | 89.6 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Gregg A. Iverson | 2,143 | 6.3 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Gary Boisclair | 1,397 | 4.1 | |
| Total votes | 34,149 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Chris Fields, retired U.S. Marine[60][61]
Withdrawn
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Fields | 5,966 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 5,966 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[14]
- Education Minnesota[15]
- National Association of Letter Carriers[16]
- National Education Association
Organizations
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[29] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Ellison easily defeated Fields, carrying about 75% of the vote.[63]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (incumbent) | 262,102 | 74.5 | |
| Republican | Chris Fields | 88,753 | 25.2 | |
| Write-in | 1,114 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 351,969 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $2,053,544 | $2,160,554 | $56,570 |
| Chris Fields (R) | $365,441 | $357,683 | $7,758 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $1,842 | $0 |
| Chris Fields (R) | $2,285 | $0 |
District 6
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 Precinct results Bachmann: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% >90% Graves: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Tie: 40–50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Michele Bachmann, who had represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2007 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2012,[64] sought re-election.[65]
In redistricting, the 6th district was expanded to include Carver County and was made more favorable to Republicans.[7]
Republican primary
Ron Seiford, an adjunct business instructor at Woodbury's Globe College,[66] and Aubrey Immelman unsuccessfully challenged her in the Republican nomination, though Bachmann won by the lowest margin of any incumbent Republican congressional candidate in 50 years.[54][67][68]
Candidates
Nominee
- Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
- Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michele Bachmann (incumbent) | 14,569 | 80.3 | |
| Republican | Stephen Thompson | 2,322 | 12.8 | |
| Republican | Aubrey Immelman | 1,242 | 6.9 | |
| Total votes | 18,133 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Jim Graves, a hotel executive,[69] won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination at the party's convention in April 2012.[48]
Candidates
Nominee
- Jim Graves, hotel executive
Withdrawn
- Brian McGoldrick, businessman[70]
- Anne Nolan, attorney and business consultant[71]
- Mike Starr, substitute teacher[72]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Jim Graves | 8,600 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 8,600 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Campaign
During a Minnesota Public Radio-moderated debate Graves stated that abortion is an issue between a woman, her family and her God: "I don't want the government to be involved in that process."[73]
Endorsements
Organizations
U.S. representatives
- Barney Frank, U.S. representative from Massachusetts's 4th congressional district (1981–present)[76]
State officials
- Arne Carlson, former Republican Governor[77]
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[14]
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- Education Minnesota[15]
- National Association of Letter Carriers[16]
- National Education Association
- Service Employees International Union
- United Steelworkers
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
Debates
- Complete video of debate, November 4, 2012
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Michele Bachmann (R) |
Jim Graves (DFL) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse Opinion Research[78] | October 16, 2012 | 1,000 | ±3.0% | 51% | 45% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[79] | October 9–11, 2012 | 598 | ±4.1% | 50% | 41% | 9% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Graves (DFL)[80] | October 4–5, 2012 | 403 | ±4.9% | 47% | 45% | 7% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Graves (DFL)[81] | August 29–30, 2012 | 401 | ±?% | 48% | 46% | 6% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Graves (DFL)[82] | June 12–14, 2012 | 505 | ±4.4% | 48% | 43% | 9% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Lean R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Bachmann narrowly retained the seat, receiving 4,298 more votes than Graves.[83]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michele Bachmann (incumbent) | 179,240 | 50.5 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Jim Graves | 174,944 | 49.3 | |
| Write-in | 969 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 355,153 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $14,995,937 | $11,946,232 | $2,070,568 |
| Jim Graves (DFL) | $2,309,982 | $2,279,384 | $30,598 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $66,397 | $66,014 |
| Jim Graves (DFL) | $2,878 | $72,438 |
District 7
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 Precinct results Peterson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Byberg: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented Minnesota's 7th congressional district since 1991, sought re-election.[84] In redistricting, the 7th district was expanded to include rural counties in southern Minnesota, while cities were moved from the 6th and 8th districts into the 7th.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. representative
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Withdrawn
- Gretchen Hoffman, state senator[86]
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Adam Steele, tax consultant and perennial candidate
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- Campaign for Working Families[26]
- Republican Liberty Caucus[58]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Likely D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 197,791 | 60.4 | |
| Republican | Lee Byberg | 114,151 | 34.8 | |
| Independence | Adam Steele | 15,298 | 4.7 | |
| Write-in | 336 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 327,576 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $1,129,343 | $1,497,202 | $34,417 | |
| Lee Byberg (R) | $583,839 | $601,966 | -$681 | |
| Adam Steele (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $2,506 | $0 |
| Lee Byberg (R) | $13,449 | $0 |
| Adam Steele (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 8
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 Precinct results Nolan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Cravaack: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican Chip Cravaack, who was first elected to represent Minnesota's 8th congressional district in 2010, sought re-election.
In redistricting, the 8th district was not significantly changed and remained competitive.[7]
Cravaack was endorsed by the Mesabi Daily News in Virginia and the Duluth News Tribune.[87] On November 6, he lost his seat to former Democratic congressman Rick Nolan, 54% to 45%.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Chip Cravaack, incumbent U.S. representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chip Cravaack (incumbent) | 20,471 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 20,471 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rick Nolan, former U.S. representative from the 6th district (1975–1981)[88][54]
Eliminated in primary
- Jeff Anderson, former Duluth city councilor (2007–2011)[89]
- Tarryl Clark, former state senator from senate district 15 (2006–2011) and nominee for the 6th district in 2010[90]
Withdrawn
- Daniel Fanning, former deputy state director for Senator Al Franken[91][92]
Declined
- Tom Bakk, minority leader of the Minnesota Senate[93][94]
- Carly Melin, State representative[95][96]
- Don Ness, mayor of Duluth[93]
- Roger Reinert, state senator[93]
- Tom Rukavina, state representative[93]
- Anthony Sertich, former state house majority leader[93]
- Yvonne Prettner Solon, incumbent lieutenant governor[97]
Campaign
Nolan was victorious in a February 2012 caucus, receiving 1,537 votes to Anderson's 1,008 and Clark's 408. 269 uncommitted votes were cast.
Delegates to a convention held in May 2012 could endorse one candidate, but candidates who did not receive the party's endorsement were nonetheless able to run in the August 2012 primary.[98]
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Richard Nolan | 20,840 | 38.3 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Tarryl Clark | 17,554 | 32.2 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Jeff Anderson | 16,035 | 29.5 | |
| Total votes | 54,429 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- Campaign for Working Families[26]
- Gun Owners of America[100]
- National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program
- National Right to Life Committee[28]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[20]
- United States Chamber of Commerce[42]
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 12, 2012
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Chip Cravaack (R) |
Rick Nolan (DFL) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[103] | November 1–3, 2012 | 585 | ±4.1% | 45% | 47% | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling[104] | October 25–26, 2012 | 1,020 | ±3.8% | 44% | 48% | 8% |
| OnMessage (R-Cravaack)[105] | October 24–25, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 50% | 40% | 10% |
| Pulse Opinion Research[106] | October 16, 2012 | 1,000 | ±3.0% | 43% | 50% | 7% |
| Victoria Research (D-Nolan)[107] | October 7–8, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 44% | 48% | 8% |
| Global Strategy Group (D-DCCC)[108] | October 4–7, 2012 | 405 | ±4.9% | 42% | 42% | 16% |
| SurveyUSA[109] | September 6–9, 2012 | 578 | ±4.3% | 45% | 46% | 9% |
| GBA Strategies (D-House Majority PAC)[110] | August 26–27, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 44% | 47% | 9% |
| Global Strategy Group (D-DCCC)[111] | August 21–29, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 44% | 45% | 11% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[30] | Tossup | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[31] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[33] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[34] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[35] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Nolan triumphed over Cravaack, receiving 54% of the vote.[112]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Rick Nolan | 191,976 | 54.3 | |
| Republican | Chip Cravaack (incumbent) | 160,520 | 45.4 | |
| Write-in | 1,167 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 353,663 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip Cravaack (R) | $2,374,760 | $2,377,366 | $26,314 |
| Rick Nolan (DFL) | $1,256,440 | $1,230,233 | $26,208 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Chip Cravaack (R) | $262,787 | $4,581,449 |
| Rick Nolan (DFL) | $600,396 | $3,711,631 |