2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota
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The 2006 congressional elections in Minnesota were held on November 7, 2006, to determine who would represent the state of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives.
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November 7, 2006
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All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Minnesota had eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 110th Congress from January 3, 2007, until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the Senate election and the gubernatorial election.
Overview
Statewide
| Party | Candidates | Votes[1][2] | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | +/– | % | |||
| Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 8 | 1,152,621 | 52.90 | 5 |  1 |
62.50 | |
| Republican | 8 | 924,636 | 42.43 | 3 |  1 |
37.50 | |
| Independence | 3 | 85,815 | 3.94 | 0 |  |
0.0 | |
| Unity | 1 | 5,508 | 0.25 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Green | 1 | 4,792 | 0.23 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Constitution | 1 | 3,303 | 0.15 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 2,299 | 0.11 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Total | 30 | 2,178,974 | 100.0 | 8 | |
100.0 | |
By district
Results of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:
| District | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| District 1 | 141,556 | 52.74% | 126,486 | 47.12% | 379 | 0.14% | 268,421 | 100.0% | Democratic gain |
| District 2 | 116,343 | 40.04% | 163,269 | 56.20% | 10,928 | 3.76% | 290,540 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 99,588 | 35.04% | 184,333 | 64.85% | 323 | 0.11% | 284,244 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 172,096 | 69.54% | 74,797 | 30.23% | 573 | 0.23% | 247,466 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 5 | 136,060 | 55.56% | 52,263 | 21.34% | 56,582 | 23.10% | 244,905 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 127,144 | 42.07% | 151,248 | 50.05% | 23,796 | 7.88% | 302,188 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 179,164 | 69.66% | 74,557 | 28.99% | 3,473 | 1.35% | 257,194 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 8 | 180,670 | 63.61% | 97,683 | 34.39% | 5,663 | 1.99% | 284,016 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 1,152,621 | 52.90% | 924,636 | 42.43% | 101,717 | 4.67% | 2,178,974 | 100.0% | |
District 1
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  Walz: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Gutknecht: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+1.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- Gregory Mikkelson, small business owner, farmer, Green nominee for this seat in 2002 and Independence nominee for this seat in 2004[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gil Gutknecht (Incumbent) | 24,725 | 87.3 | |
| Republican | Gregory Mikkelson | 3,600 | 12.7 | |
| Total votes | 28,325 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Tim Walz, high school teacher and retired Army National Guard NCO[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz | 26,475 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 26,475 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Campaign
Walz accused Gutknecht of extending tax cuts to "Wall Street" and sought to tie Gutknecht to the unpopular President George W. Bush.[6] A centerpiece of Walz's campaign was his opposition to the Iraq War, as the war's popularity was on the decline.[7][8]
Endorsements
Organizations
Labor unions
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program[11]
- Newspapers and publications
Individuals
- Wesley Clark, retired Army General and 2004 democratic presidential candidate[13]
Debate
- Complete video of debate, October 26, 2006
Polling
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Tilt R | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Lean R | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Lean R | November 7, 2006 |
Results
Walz upset Gutknecht by a margin of 5.6%.[21][22] After his defeat, Gutknecht admitted to Politico that he had been caught "off guard" by Walz.[23]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz | 141,556 | 52.7 | |
| Republican | Gil Gutknecht (Incumbent) | 126,486 | 47.1 | |
| Write-in | 379 | 0.1 | ||
| Majority | ||||
| Total votes | 268,421 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gil Gutknecht (R) | $1,364,284 | $1,723,707 | $1,184 |
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $1,299,267 | $1,227,636 | $78,103 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Gil Gutknecht (R) | $137,425 | $915,190 |
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $546,447 | $440,382 |
District 2
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 Precinct results Kline: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Rowley: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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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 56.4% of the vote in 2004. The district had a PVI of R+3.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary
In May 2005, Rowley announced that she was considering running against incumbent Kline. At the time of her announcement, she had been living in Apple Valley, Minnesota, for 15 years and had formerly voted and identified as a Republican, but on June 27, she announced that she was entering the race as a DFLer, and on July 6 officially kicked off her campaign at her home.[24] On August 18, Rowley attended a vigil in Crawford, Texas, outside President George W. Bush's ranch requesting that the president meet with Cindy Sheehan to answer Sheehan's questions about the War in Iraq and the death of Sheehan's son, Casey.[24]
Candidates
Nominee
- Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and political activist[24]
Withdrawn
- Sharon Marko, state senator[25]
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Doug Williams, perennial candidate
General election
Campaign
On January 3, 2006, an unauthorized professionally retouched image appeared on Rowley's campaign website, depicting Kline, a retired Marine Corps colonel, as Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes. Kline objected to the photo and the Rowley campaign removed the image the same day and initiated an investigation. Rowley quickly apologized.[26]
The Rowley campaign found financing difficult, as opposing an incumbent conservative such as Kline in a conservative district, despite the national environment favouring the Democrats, did not attract money from the most robust Democratic resources, such as the DNC.[27] Ultimately Kline's campaign achieved a 2–1 advantage in raising funds.[28]
Endorsements
U.S. Representatives
- John Murtha (D-PA-12)
Labor unions
- Newspapers and publications
Individuals
- Wesley Clark, retired Army General, 2004 democratic presidential candidate[29]
Polling
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe R | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe R | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Likely R | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe R | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Likely R | November 7, 2006 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Kline | 163,269 | 56.2 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Coleen Rowley | 116,343 | 40.0 | |
| Independence | Douglas Williams | 10,802 | 3.7 | |
| Write-in | 126 | 0.1 | ||
| Majority | ||||
| Total votes | 290,540 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $1,495,470 | $1,478,465 | $42,933 | |
| Coleen Rowley (DFL) | $692,476 | $690,132 | $2,345 | |
| Doug Williams (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $5,821 | $0 |
| Coleen Rowley (DFL) | $43,154 | $0 |
| Doug Williams (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 3
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 Precinct results Ramstad: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Wilde: 50–60% 60–70% Tie: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||
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This conservative district encompassed the northern, western, and southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Hennepin County and Anoka County. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of Even.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Ramstad (Incumbent) | 17,579 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 17,579 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Wendy Wilde, broadcaster, news anchor and talk show host
Eliminated in primary
- Kevin Ray Smith, neuromuscular massage therapist
- Gavin Sullivan, services coordinator
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Wendy Wilde | 19,259 | 76.8 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Kevin Ray Smith | 2,911 | 11.6 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Gavin Sullivan | 2,894 | 11.6 | |
| Total votes | 25,064 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe R | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe R | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Safe R | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe R | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Safe R | November 7, 2006 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Ramstad (Incumbent) | 184,333 | 64.9 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Wendy Wilde | 99,588 | 35.0 | |
| Write-in | 323 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 284,244 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Ramstad (R) | $1,028,886 | $1,424,365 | $586,456 |
| Wendy Wilde (D) | $67,887 | $67,861 | $24 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Ramstad (R) | $5,638 | $0 |
| Wendy Wilde (D) | $1,060 | $0 |
District 4
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 Precinct results McCollum: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Sium: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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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 57.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+13.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Betty McCollum (Incumbent) | 37,397 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 37,397 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Obi Sium, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employee
Eliminated in primary
- Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office[32]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Obi Sium | 8,802 | 64.2 | |
| Republican | Jack Shepard | 4,908 | 35.8 | |
| Total votes | 13,710 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Betty McCollum (Incumbent) | 172,096 | 69.5 | |
| Republican | Obi Sium | 74,797 | 30.2 | |
| Write-in | 573 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 247,466 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $562,752 | $611,908 | $74,911 |
| Obi Sium (R) | $79,223 | $75,617 | $3,603 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $2,308 | $0 |
| Obi Sium (R) | $77 | $0 |
District 5
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 Precinct results Ellison: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Fine: 30–40% 40–50% Lee: 30–40% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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This district covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. Incumbent Democrat Martin Olav Sabo, who had represented the district since 1979, decided to retire, creating an open seat. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+21.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Keith Ellison, state representative from district 58B since 2003
Eliminated in primary
- Mike Erlandson, former chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; former Chief of Staff to Martin Olav Sabo[33]
- Andrew Vincent Favorite, businessman and former U.S. Navy reservist[34]
- Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran[34][35]
- Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator from district 46 (1983–2001)[36]
- Paul Ostrow, member of the Minneapolis City Council[37]
- Patrick J. Wiles, former member of the United Auto Workers Local 879 executive board[38]
Withdrew before primary
- Gail Dorfman, member of the Hennepin County Commission[39] (endorsed Ellison)[40]
- Anne Knapp, former Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Employment Security[41] (endorsed Saavedra)[42]
- Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas[43](endorsed Ellison)[42]
- Jon Olson, President of the Minneapolis Parks Board[44]
- Jorge Saavedra, attorney[45] (endorsed Ellison)[40]
- Gary Schiff, member of the Minneapolis City Council[46]
- Erik Thompson, activist (ran in the 7th district)[47]
Declined
- Mark Andrew, former chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party[48]
- Sharon Sayles Belton, former mayor of Minneapolis[49]
- Scott Benson, member of the Minneapolis City Council[49]
- Satveer Chaudhary, state senator[48]
- Scott Dibble, state senator[48] (endorsed Dorfman)[48]
- Betty Folliard, former state representative[49]
- Lisa Goodman, member of the Minneapolis City Council[48]
- Margaret Anderson Kelliher, state representative[48] (endorsed Ellison)[42]
- Peter McLaughlin, member of the Hennepin County Commission[49]
- Mike Opat, member of the Hennepin County Commission[48] (endorsed Dorfman, then Erlandson)[48][34]
- R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis[49]
- Martin Olav Sabo, incumbent U.S. Representative[49]
- Julie Sabo, former state senator, daughter of Rep Sabo and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2002[48]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison | 29,003 | 41.2 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Erlandson | 21,857 | 31.1 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Ember Junge | 14,454 | 20.5 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Paul Ostrow | 3,795 | 5.4 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Andrew Favorite | 470 | 0.7 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Gregg Iverson | 448 | 0.6 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Patrick Wiles | 347 | 0.5 | |
| Total votes | 70,374 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Alan Fine, business consultant and senior lecturer at the Carlson School of Management[50]
Withdrawn
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alan Fine | 7,352 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 7,352 | 100.0 | ||
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jay Pond, video editing, production business owner and nominee for this seat in 2004
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Tammy Lee, former press secretary for United States Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and communications director for Skip Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial campaign
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Tammy Lee | 1,086 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,086 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Polling
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
Results
Despite a surprisingly strong performance by Lee, Ellison emerged victorious, and became the first African-American Congressman from Minnesota and the first Muslim in Congress.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison | 136,060 | 55.6 | |
| Republican | Alan Fine | 52,263 | 21.3 | |
| Independence | Tammy Lee | 51,456 | 21.0 | |
| Green | Jay Pond | 4,792 | 2.0 | |
| Write-in | 334 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 244,905 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $795,047 | $786,127 | $8,920 |
| Alan Fine (R) | $173,319 | $173,621 | –$248 |
| Jay Pond (G) | $8,311 | $8,312 | $0 |
| Tammy Lee (I) | $228,938 | $226,398 | $2,539 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $49,978 | $0 |
| Alan Fine (R) | $0 | $0 |
| Jay Pond (G) | $0 | $0 |
| Tammy Lee (I) | $450 | $0 |
District 6
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  Bachmann: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Wetterling: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tie: 40–50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
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This district includes most or all of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Anoka, and Washington counties. Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy, who had represented the district since 2001, declined to seek a fourth term in Congress, instead opting to run for Senate in the wake of then-Senator Mark Dayton's retirement. Kennedy was re-elected with 54.0% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+5.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Withdrawn
- Jay Esmay, businessman[54]
- Phil Krinkie, state representative[54]
- Jim Knoblach, state representative[54]
- Cheri Yecke, former Minnesota Commissioner of Education[55]
Declined
- Michelle Fischbach, state senator[56]
- Rod Grams, former U.S. Senator (ran for U.S. Senate and then ran for 8th district)[57]
- Mark Kennedy, incumbent U.S. Representative (running for U.S. Senate)
- Mary Kiffmeyer, Minnesota Secretary of State[56]
- Dave Kleis, state senator (ran for Mayor of St. Cloud)
- Dan Nygaard, chair of the 6th district Republican Party
- Mark Ourada, state senator
Democratic primary
Patty Wetterling who had run a competitive race in 2004 initially opted to run the vacant Senate seat before dropping out and switching to running for the 6th again.[58]
Candidates
Nominee
- Patty Wetterling, national advocate of children's safety and nominee for this seat in 2004[59]
Withdrawn
- Scott Mortensen[55]
- Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Mayor of Blaine (endorsed Wetterling)[59]
Declined
- John Ellenbecke, Mayor of St. Cloud
- Ted Thompson, banker, former chief of staff to Bill Luther and candidate for this seat in 2004
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Binkowski, project coordinator for Johnson Controls[60]
General election
Campaign
During the campaign, Wetterling attacked Bachmann for voting against increased restrictions on sex offenders, while Bachmann accused Wetterling of wanting to negotiate with terrorists, charges each denied.[61]
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Michele Bachmann(R) |
Patty Wetterling (D) |
John Binkowski (I) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)[62] | November 1–3, 2006 | 698 (LV) | ±3.8% | 49% | 42% | 7% | 2% |
| Zogby (Reuters)[63] | October 24–29, 2006 | 500 (LV) | ±4.5% | 52% | 42% | 6% | |
| RT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics[64] | October 24–26, 2006 | 1,056 (LV) | ±3.0% | 48% | 47% | 3% | 2% |
| SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)[65] | October 22–24, 2006 | 738 (LV) | ±3.7% | 49% | 43% | 5% | 3% |
| RT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics[66] | October 6–12, 2006 | 995 (LV) | ±3.1% | 45% | 50% | 5% | |
| Information Specialists Group (Star Tribune)[67] | October 6–10, 2006 | 506 (LV) | ±4.4% | 40% | 48% | 4% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)[68] | October 6–8, 2006 | 669 (LV) | ±3.9% | 47% | 44% | 7% | 2% |
| Zogby (Reuters)[69] | September 25–October 2, 2006 | 500 (LV) | ±4.5% | 46% | 43% | 11% | |
| Feldman Group (D)[70] | September 19–21, 2006 | 300 (LV) | ±5.7% | 44% | 41% | 15% | |
| SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)[71] | September 15–17, 2006 | 641 (LV) | ±3.9% | 50% | 41% | 5% | 3% |
| Mellman Group (D-Wetterling)[72] | January 14–16, 2006 | 400 (LV) | ±4.9% | 38% | 43% | – | 19% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Tilt R | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Lean R | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Tossup | November 7, 2006 |
Results
Despite polling that indicated that the race would be close, and although this was the most expensive House race in Minnesota,[73] Bachmann defeated Wetterling by a large margin, with Binkowski receiving about 8%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michele Bachmann | 151,248 | 50.1 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Patty Wetterling | 127,144 | 42.1 | |
| Independence | John Binkowski | 23,557 | 7.8 | |
| Write-in | 239 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 302,188 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $2,626,866 | $2,553,746 | $73,120 |
| Patty Wetterling (D) | $4,247,883 | $4,273,801 | $11,127 |
| John Binkowski (I) | $18,096 | $17,060 | $1,034 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $243,619 | $1,291,566 |
| Patty Wetterling (DFL) | $574,773 | $2,502,415 |
| John Binkowski (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 7
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  Peterson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Barrett: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Tie: 40–50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 66.1% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+6. This conservative, rural district based in western Minnesota tended to vote for Republicans at the national level, however Peterson had been able to hold on to his seat with ease since his first election in 1990.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- Erik Thompson, banker
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson | 33,732 | 86.0 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Erik Thompson | 5,476 | 14.0 | |
| Total votes | 39,208 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Michael Barrett, pharmacist
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Barrett | 20,475 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 20,475 | 100.0 | ||
Constitution primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Ken Lucier, retired U.S. Postal Service employee
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (Incumbent) | 179,164 | 69.7 | |
| Republican | Michael Barrett | 74,557 | 29.0 | |
| Constitution | Ken Lucier | 3,303 | 1.3 | |
| Write-in | 170 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 257,194 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $938,128 | $645,285 | $315,541 | |
| Michael Barrett (R) | $41,378 | $41,375 | $0 | |
| Ken Lucier (C) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $6,812 | $0 |
| Michael Barrett (R) | $12,428 | $0 |
| Ken Lucier (C) | $0 | $0 |
District 8
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  Oberstar: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Grams: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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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 65.2% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+4.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Other Candidates
- Harry Welty (Unity), Duluth School Board member and perennial candidate
General election
Campaign
Oberstar sought a 17th term and faced former United States Senator Rod Grams, who lived outside the district and had represented the 6th district in Congress twelve years earlier.
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[16] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics[19] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
| CQ Politics[20] | Safe D | November 7, 2006 |
Results
Despite Grams's high stature and name recognition, he posed no serious threat to Oberstar, who was re-elected in a landslide.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Jim Oberstar (incumbent) | 180,670 | 63.6 | |
| Republican | Rod Grams | 97,683 | 34.4 | |
| Unity | Harry Welty | 5,508 | 1.9 | |
| Write-in | 155 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 284,016 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Oberstar (DFL) | $1,368,865 | $1,422,123 | $172,051 |
| Rod Grams (R) | $489,575 | $562,956 | $438 |
| Harry Welty (U) | $5,677 | $5,398 | $278 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Oberstar (DFL) | $22,949 | $0 |
| Rod Grams (R) | $0 | $0 |
| Harry Welty (U) | $0 | $0 |
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear