2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota
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The 2008 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 4, 2008. All eight congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th United States Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. Primary elections were held on September 9 2008.
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November 4, 2008
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All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 presidential election, 2008 Senate election (for the seat held by Republican Norm Coleman), and 2008 Minnesota Legislature elections occurred on the same date, as did many local elections and ballot initiatives.
The 110th congressional delegation from the U.S. state of Minnesota had three Republicans and five Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members (DFLers). Six were men; two were women. Three were freshmen in the 110th congress. The veterans ranged in experience from Jim Oberstar with 33 years of experience and the chairman of the Transportation Committee, to John Kline with just four years of experience.
Overview
Statewide
| Party | Candidates | Votes[1] | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | +/– | % | |||
| Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 8 | 1,612,480 | 57.53 | 5 |  |
62.50 | |
| Republican | 8 | 1,069,015 | 38.14 | 3 | |
37.50 | |
| Independence | 4 | 116,835 | 4.17 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 4,284 | 0.15 | 0 | |
0.0 | |
| Total | 28 | 2,802,614 | 100.0 | 8 | |
100.0 | |
By district
Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:
| District | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| District 1 | 207,753 | 62.50% | 109,453 | 32.93% | 15,194 | 4.57% | 332,400 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 2 | 164,093 | 42.55% | 220,924 | 57.29% | 639 | 0.16% | 385,656 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 150,787 | 40.85% | 178,932 | 48.48% | 39,385 | 10.67% | 369,104 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 216,267 | 68.44% | 98,936 | 31.31% | 815 | 0.26% | 316,018 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 5 | 228,776 | 70.88% | 71,020 | 22.00% | 22,951 | 7.12% | 322,747 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 175,786 | 43.43% | 187,817 | 46.41% | 41,122 | 10.15% | 404,725 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 227,187 | 72.20% | 87,062 | 27.67% | 431 | 0.14% | 314,680 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 8 | 241,831 | 67.69% | 114,871 | 32.15% | 582 | 0.16% | 357,284 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 1,612,480 | 57.53% | 1,069,015 | 38.14% | 121,119 | 4.32% | 2,802,614 | 100.0% | |
District 1
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 Walz: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%  Walz: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Davis: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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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.[2]
Democratic primary
Walz, a former teacher and command sergeant major in the National Guard,[3] 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz (incumbent) | 20,998 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 20,998 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Dick Day, state senator and former state senate Majority Leader (1997–2007)[5][7]
Withdrawn
- Randy Demmer, state representative[5]
- Mark Meyer, actuary, lawyer and member of the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School Board[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brian J. Davis | 17,196 | 66.7 | |
| Republican | Dick Day | 8,480 | 33.0 | |
| Total votes | 25,676 | 100.0 | ||
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Gregory Mikkelson | 1,043 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,043 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Likely D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Lean D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Likely D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
Walz won a second term, garnering 62.5% of the vote.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Tim Walz (incumbent) | 207,753 | 62.5 | |
| Republican | Brian Davis | 109,453 | 32.9 | |
| Independence | Gregory Mikkelson | 14,904 | 4.5 | |
| Write-in | 290 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 332,400 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $2,729,819 | $2,704,466 | $30,528 | |
| Brian Davis (R) | $849,200 | $846,278 | $2,922 | |
| Gregory Mikkelson (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Walz (DFL) | $57,889 | $0 |
| Brian Davis (R) | $31,301 | $0 |
| Gregory Mikkelson (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 2
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 Precinct results Kline: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Sarvi: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Tie: 50% 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 56.2% of the vote in 2006. The district had a PVI of R+3.[2]
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.[22]
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.[23] On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party.[24]
Candidates
Nominee
- Steve Sarvi, Iraq War veteran and former mayor of Watertown
Withdrawn
- Dan Powers, construction contractor
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
U.S. representatives
- Tim Walz, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–present)[25]
- 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[8]
- 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[9]
- Clean Water Action
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program[26]
- Education Minnesota
- Independence Party of Minnesota[27]
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund[12]
- Sierra Club[13]
- Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy
- VoteVets[14]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Likely R | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe R | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Likely R | November 6, 2008 |
Results
Kline won garnering 57.3% of the vote.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 220,924 | 57.3 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Steve Sarvi | 164,093 | 42.5 | |
| Write-in | 639 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 385,656 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $1,464,906 | $1,484,962 | $0 |
| Steve Sarvi (DFL) | $559,473 | $559,474 | $0 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| John Kline (R) | $3,287 | $4,417 |
| Steve Sarvi (DFL) | $20,012 | $0 |
District 3
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 Precinct results Paulsen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Madia: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.[28] 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Erik Paulsen | 14,187 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 14,187 | 100.0 | ||
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.[29]
Candidates
Nominee
Withdrawn
- Terri Bonoff, state senator[31]
- Jim Hovland, mayor of Edina (withdrew March 2008)[32][33]
Endorsements
U.S. representatives
- Keith Ellison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–present)[29]
Organizations
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Ashwin Madia | 20,830 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 20,830 | 100.0 | ||
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- David Dillon, businessman[39]
Eliminated in primary
- Steev Ramsdell, massage therapy center operator
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | David Dillon | 674 | 72.8 | |
| Independence | Steev Ramsdell | 252 | 27.2 | |
| Total votes | 926 | 100.0 | ||
Constitution primary
Candidates
Withdrawn
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
U.S. representatives
- Keith Ellison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district (2007–present)
Labor unions
Organizations
Polling
| Poll source |
Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Erik Paulsen (R) |
Ashwin Madia (DFL) |
David Dillon (IP) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[44] | October 29–30, 2008 | 647 | ± 3.9% | 46% | 41% | 10% | 3% |
| SurveyUSA[45] | October 26–27, 2008 | 643 | ± 3.9% | 45% | 44% | 9% | 2% |
| SurveyUSA[46] | October 6–7, 2008 | 634 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 46% | 8% | 3% |
| Bennett, Petts and Normington (D-DCCC)[47] | September 29–30, 2008 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 39% | 44% | 8% | 9% |
| SurveyUSA[48] | August 26–28, 2008 | 636 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 41% | 10% | 6% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Lean D (flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Lean R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Tossup | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
Results
Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Erik Paulsen | 178,932 | 48.5 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Ashwin Madia | 150,787 | 40.9 | |
| Independence | David Dillon | 38,970 | 10.6 | |
| Write-in | 415 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 369,104 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erik Paulsen (R) | $2,781,437 | $2,744,927 | $36,509 |
| Ashwin Madia (DFL) | $2,734,890 | $2,726,040 | $8,849 |
| David Dillon (I) | $66,900 | $66,896 | $94,285 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Erik Paulsen (R) | $122,480 | $665,688 |
| Ashwin Madia (DFL) | $754,248 | $1,048,053 |
| David Dillon (I) | $0 | $20,317 |
District 4
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 Precinct results McCollum: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Matthews: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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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 69.5% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of D+13.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. representative
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Ed Matthews, attorney
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
McCollum won the race, garnering 68.4% of the vote.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Betty McCollum (incumbent) | 216,267 | 68.4 | |
| Republican | Ed Matthews | 98,936 | 31.3 | |
| Write-in | 815 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 316,018 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $722,054 | $719,710 | $77,255 |
| Ed Matthews (R) | $84,061 | $77,148 | $6,909 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Betty McCollum (DFL) | $3,795 | $0 |
| Ed Matthews (R) | $3 | $0 |
District 5
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 Precinct results Ellison: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 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.[2] 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison | 33,988 | 84.5 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Gregg A. Iverson | 6,251 | 15.5 | |
| Total votes | 40,239 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Barb Davis White, minister, author, and civil rights activist[50][51]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Barb Davis White | 5,284 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 5,284 | 100.0 | ||
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- William (Bill) McGaughey, landlord and candidate for U.S. Senator 2002
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Bill McGaughey | 828 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 828 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (incumbent) | 228,776 | 70.9 | |
| Republican | Barb Davis White | 71,020 | 22.0 | |
| Independence | Bill McGaughey | 22,318 | 6.9 | |
| Write-in | 633 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 322,747 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $1,530,396 | $1,476,449 | $61,922 | |
| Barb Davis White (R) | $62,099 | $55,796 | $6,634 | |
| Bill McGaughey (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Ellison (DFL) | $5,807 | $0 |
| Barb Davis White (R) | $3 | $0 |
| Bill McGaughey (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 6
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 Precinct results Bachmann: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tinklenberg: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.[2]
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[52] and a multimillion-dollar warchest.[53]
Candidates
Nominee
- Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- Aubrey Immelman, associate professor of psychology
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michele Bachmann (incumbent) | 19,127 | 85.9 | |
| Republican | Aubrey Immelman | 3,134 | 14.1 | |
| Total votes | 22,261 | 100.0 | ||
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[54]
Withdrawn
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | El Tinklenberg | 17,474 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 17,474 | 100.0 | ||
Independence primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Bob Anderson, dental technician
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Bob Anderson | 828 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 828 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Campaign
Bachmann's charges about "anti-American views" shifted the political dynamics of this campaign,[57] 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.[58]
Endorsements
Organizations
Labor unions
Organizations
Polling
| Poll source |
Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Michele Bachmann (R) |
Elwyn Tinklenberg (DFL) |
Bob Anderson (IP) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[60] | October 29–30, 2008 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 45% | 6% | 3% |
| Minnesota Public Radio[61] | October 21–23, 2008 | 430 | ± 4.7% | 43% | 45% | 5% | 7% |
| SurveyUSA[62] | October 21–22, 2008 | 621 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 47% | 6% | 2% |
| Grove Insight (D-DCCC)[63] | October 10–12, 2008 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 42% | 38% | 5% | 15% |
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'.[64]
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Tilt D (flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Lean D (flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Tossup | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
Results
Despite the controversy, Bachmann was re-elected, garnering 46.4% of the vote to Tinklenberg's 43.4% and Anderson's 10%.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michele Bachmann (incumbent) | 187,817 | 46.4 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Elwyn Tinklenberg | 175,786 | 43.4 | |
| Independence | Bob Anderson | 40,643 | 10.0 | |
| Write-in | 479 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 404,725 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $3,494,045 | $3,565,248 | $1,918 | |
| Elwyn Tinklenberg (DFL) | $2,968,319 | $2,515,420 | $452,898 | |
| Bob Anderson (I) | Unreported | |||
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Bachmann (R) | $189,713 | $25,148 |
| Elwyn Tinklenberg (DFL) | $172,872 | $0 |
| Bob Anderson (I) | $0 | $0 |
District 7
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 Peterson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%  Peterson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Menze: 50–60% 60–70% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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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.[2]
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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin C. Peterson (incumbent) | 21,791 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 21,791 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Alan Roebke, farmer and convicted felon
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Glen Menze | 7,698 | 51.8 | |
| Republican | Alan Roebke | 7,172 | 48.2 | |
| Total votes | 14,870 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 227,187 | 72.2 | |
| Republican | Glen Menze | 87,062 | 27.7 | |
| Write-in | 431 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 314,680 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $1,218,264 | $1,036,463 | $497,343 |
| Glen Menze (R) | $12,875 | $13,401 | $0 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Collin Peterson (DFL) | $4,077 | $0 |
| Glen Menze (R) | $3,989 | $0 |
District 8
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 Precinct results Oberstar: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Cummins: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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.[2]
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
Organizations
Organizations
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[15] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[16] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[18] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[19] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Jim Oberstar (incumbent) | 241,831 | 67.7 | |
| Republican | Michael Cummins | 114,871 | 32.2 | |
| Write-in | 582 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 357,284 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Finances
Campaigns
| Candidate (party) | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Oberstar (DFL) | $1,995,753 | $1,409,685 | $758,117 |
| Michael Cummins (R) | $23,431 | $15,751 | $1,436 |
Outside Spending
| Candidate (party) | Supported | Opposed |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Oberstar (DFL) | $2,407 | $0 |
| Michael Cummins (R) | $620 | $0 |