2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

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All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Last election 5 seats, 57.53% 3 seats, 38.14% Seats before 5 3 Seats won 4 4 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,002,026 970,741 Percentage 47.93% 46.43% Swing 9.60% 8.29%
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The 2010 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 2, 2010. All eight congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve 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 ran successfully for re-election, except District 8's Jim Oberstar, who was defeated in his bid for a 19th term. This left Minnesota with an even number of Democratic and Republican representatives.

Match-up summary[]

District	Incumbent	2010 Status	DFL	Republican	Independence	Constitution
1	Tim Walz	Re-elected	Tim Walz	Randy Demmer
2	John Kline	Re-elected	Shelley Madore	John Kline
3	Erik Paulsen	Re-elected	Jim Meffert	Erik Paulsen
4	Betty McCollum	Re-elected	Betty McCollum	Teresa Collett
5	Keith Ellison	Re-elected	Keith Ellison	Joel Demos	Bill McGaughey
6	Michele Bachmann	Re-elected	Tarryl Clark	Michele Bachmann
7	Collin Peterson	Re-elected	Collin Peterson	Lee Byberg
8	Jim Oberstar	Defeated	Jim Oberstar	Chip Cravaack

Overview[]

United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2010[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats Before	Seats After	+/–
	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	1,002,026	47.93%	5	4	-1
	Republican	970,741	46.43%	3	4	+1
	Independence	84,816	4.05%	0	0	0
	Constitution	2,492	0.11%	0	0	0
	Others	30,516	1.45%	0	0	0
Totals		2,090,591	100.00%	8	8	—

By district[]

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:^[2]

District	Democratic		Republican		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	122,365	49.34%	109,242	44.05%	16,398	6.61%	248,005	100.0%	Democratic Hold
District 2	104,809	36.59%	181,341	63.30%	303	0.11%	286,453	100.0%	Republican Hold
District 3	100,240	36.57%	161,177	58.80%	12,675	4.62%	274,092	100.0%	Republican Hold
District 4	136,746	59.09%	80,141	34.63%	14,539	6.28%	231,426	100.0%	Democratic Hold
District 5	154,833	67.69%	55,222	24.14%	18,691	8.17%	228,746	100.0%	Democratic Hold
District 6	120,846	39.79%	159,476	52.51%	23,369	7.70%	303,691	100.0%	Republican Hold
District 7	133,096	55.20%	90,652	37.60%	17,349	7.20%	241,097	100.0%	Democratic Hold
District 8	129,091	46.59%	133,490	48.18%	14,500	5.23%	277,081	100.0%	Republican Gain
Total	1,002,026	47.93%	970,741	46.43%	117,824	5.64%	2,090,591	100.0%

District 1[]

Democrat Tim Walz ran for re-election, challenged by Republican nominee Randy Demmer, Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson, and Party Free candidate Lars Johnson. Walz won the general election on November 2, 2010, with 49% of the vote to Demmer's 44%. CQ Politics rated the seat as 'Leans Democratic'. No primary elections were held in the 1st congressional district in 2010.^[3]

General election[]

Polling[]

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Tim Walz (D)	Randy Demmer (R)
Survey USA	October 22–26, 2010	50%	41%
Grove Insight	October 18–19, 2010	50%	34%
Survey USA	October 12–14, 2010	47%	42%

Results[]

Minnesota's 1st Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Tim Walz (Incumbent)	122,365	49.34
	Republican	Randy Demmer	109,242	44.05
	Independence	Steve Wilson	13,242	5.34
	Party Free	Lars Johnson	3,054	1.23
	Write-In	Others	102	0.04
Total votes			248,005	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

External links

• Steve Wilson campaign site
• Lars Johnson campaign site
• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 2[]

Republican John Kline sought re-election to continue representing the 2nd district, which CQ Politics rated as 'Safe'. Kline won the general election on November 2, 2010, 63%-37%.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Shelley Madore, former State Representative from district 37A (2007-2009)
• Dan Powers

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Shelley Madore	19,990	54.74
	Democratic (DFL)	Dan Powers	16,528	45.26
Total votes			36,518	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2003

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kline (Incumbent)	16,151	100.00
Total votes			16,151	100.00

General Election[]

Results[]

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kline (Incumbent)	181,341	63.30
	Democratic (DFL)	Shelley Madore	104,809	36.59
	Write-In	Others	303	0.11
Total votes			286,453	100.00
	Republican hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 3[]

Republican Erik Paulsen ran for re-election in the 3rd congressional district, which CQ Politics rated as 'Safe Republican'. Paulsen won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-37%. No primary elections were held in the 3rd congressional district in 2010.^[3]

General Election[]

Results[]

Minnesota's 3rd Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Erik Paulsen (Incumbent)	161,177	58.81
	Democratic (DFL)	Jim Meffert	100,240	36.57
	Independence	Jon Olseon	12,508	4.56
	Write-In	Others	167	0.06
Total votes			274,092	100.00
	Republican hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 4[]

Democrat Betty McCollum ran for re-election in the 4th congressional district, which CQ Politics rated as 'Safe'. McCollum won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-35%.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• 

  Winning Percentage by Precinct

    Republican >= 40%

    Republican >= 50%

    Republican >= 60%

    Democrat >= 40%

    Democrat >= 50%

    Democrat >= 60%

    Democrat >= 70%

    Democrat >= 80%

    Democrat >= 90%
  Diana Longrie, former Mayor of Maplewood (2005-2009)
• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2001

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Betty McCollum (Incumbent)	55,491	86.55
	Democratic (DFL)	Diana Longrie	8,622	13.45
Total votes			64,113	100.00

Independence Party primary[]

Candidates[]

• Steve Carlson

Results[]

Independence Party Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Steve Carlson	1,550	100.00
Total votes			1,550	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Teresa Collett, law professor at the University of St. Thomas
• Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office^[5]

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Teresa Collett	6,949	67.20
	Republican	Jack Shepard	3,392	32.80
Total votes			10,341	100.00

General election[]

Results[]

Minnesota's 4th Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Betty McCollum (Incumbent)	136,746	59.09
	Republican	Teresa Collett	80,141	34.63
	Independence	Steve Carlson	14,207	6.14
	Write-In	Others	332	0.14
Total votes			231,426	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 5[]

Democrat Keith Ellison ran for re-election in the 5th district, which CQ Politics rated as 'Safe'. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress. Ellison won the general election on November 2, 2010, 68%-24%.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2007
• Gregg A. Iverson
• Barb Davis White, minister, author, and civil rights activist

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Keith Ellison (Incumbent)	55,424	81.55
	Democratic (DFL)	Barb Davis White	7,963	11.72
	Democratic (DFL)	Gregg A. Iverson	4,575	6.73
Total votes			67,962	100.00

Independence Party primary[]

Candidates[]

• Tom Schrunk

Results[]

Independence Party Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Tom Schrunk	1,202	100.00
Total votes			1,202	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Joel Demos

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joel Demos	4,975	100.00
Total votes			4,975	100.00

General election[]

Results[]

Minnesota's 5th Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Keith Ellison (Incumbent)	154,833	67.69
	Republican	Joel Demos	55,222	24.14
	Independent	Lynne Torgerson	8,548	3.74
	Independence	Tom Schrunk	7,446	3.25
	Independent	Michael James Cavlan	2,468	1.08
	Write-In	Others	229	0.10
Total votes			228,746	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 6[]

Democrat Tarryl Clark, the state Senate assistant majority leader, received the endorsement of the DFL Party and was the sole Democratic challenger to Bachmann's seat, Maureen Reed having dropped out of the race in June 2010. Reed, a former University of Minnesota regent chair and a physician, threw her support behind Clark saying she felt "it is time for the DFL to unify behind one candidate in this race".^[6][7] Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson and independent Aubrey Immelman also ran. Michele Bachmann won the general election on November 2, 2010 by a margin of 52% to 38%.^[8]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Tarryl Clark, State Senator since 2006, and assistant majority leader of the Minnesota State Senate
• Maureen Keennedy Reed, physician

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Tarryl Clark	28,185	69.10
	Democratic (DFL)	Maureen Keennedy Reed	12,603	30.90
Total votes			40,788	100.00

Independence Party primary[]

Candidates[]

• Bob Anderson

Results[]

Independence Party Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Bob Anderson	1,418	100.00
Total votes			1,418	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2007

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michele Bachmann (Incumbent)	17,237	100.00
Total votes			17,237	100.00

General election[]

Polling[]

Bachmann vs. Clark

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Michele Bachmann (R)	Tarryl Clark (D)
Survey USA	September 15, 2010	49%	40%
Survey USA ([1])	July 9–11, 2010	48%	39%
Public Policy Polling (Link)	December 17–20, 2009	55%	37%

Bachmann vs. Reed

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Michele Bachmann (R)	Maureen Reed (D)
Public Policy Polling (Link)	December 17–20, 2009	53%	37%

Results[]

Minnesota's 6th Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michele Bachmann (Incumbent)	159,476	52.51
	Democratic (DFL)	Tarryl Clark	120,846	39.79
	Independence	Bob Anderson	17,698	5.83
	Independent	Aubrey Immelsman	5,490	1.81
	Write-In	Others	181	0.06
Total votes			303,691	100.00
	Republican hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times
• Michele Bachmann for Congress incumbent
• Tarryl Clark for Congress
• Maureen Reed for Congress
• Bob Anderson for Congress, PVS
• Aubrey Immelman for Congress, PVS

District 7[]

Democrat Collin Peterson ran for re-election in the 7th district, which CQ Politics rated as 'Safe'. Peterson won the general election on November 2, 2010, 55%-38%.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1991
• Alan Roebke

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Collin Peterson (Incumbent)	42,104	85.20
	Democratic (DFL)	Alan Roebke	7,315	14.80
Total votes			49,419	100.00

Independence Party primary[]

Candidates[]

• Glen R. Menze

Results[]

Independence Party Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Glen R. Menze	2,242	100.00
Total votes			2,242	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Lee Byberg, business executive

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lee Byberg	11,417	100.00
Total votes			11,417	100.00

General election[]

Results[]

Minnesota's 7th Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Collin Peterson (Incumbent)	133,096	55.20
	Republican	Lee Byberg	90,652	37.60
	Independent	Gene Waldorf	9,317	3.87
	Independence	Glen R. Menze	7,839	3.25
	Write-In	Others	193	0.08
Total votes			241,097	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

District 8[]

Jim Oberstar lost his bid for a 19th term on November 2, 2010 to Republican Chip Cravaack.^[9] Cravaack won 48% of the vote to Oberstar's 47%. CQ Politics had rated the seat as 'Likely Democratic'.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• W. D. (Bill) Ham
• James L. Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1975

Results[]

Democratic Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	James L. Oberstar (Incumbent)	56,510	80.48
	Democratic (DFL)	W. D. (Bill) Ham	13,710	19.52
Total votes			70,220	100.00

Independence Party primary[]

Candidates[]

• Timothy Olson

Results[]

Independence Party Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Timothy Olson	2,515	100.00
Total votes			2,515	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Chip Cravaack, former Northwest Airlines pilot

Results[]

Republican Primary Election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chip Cravaack	26,608	100.00
Total votes			26,608	100.00

General election[]

Polling[]

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Jim Oberstar (D)	Chip Cravaack (R)
SurveyUSA	October 25–28, 2010	47%	46%
Public Opinion Strategies	September 28–30, 2010	45%	42%

Results[]

Minnesota's 8th Congressional district election, 2010 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chip Cravaack	133,490	48.18
	Democratic (DFL)	James L. Oberstar (Incumbent)	129,091	46.59
	Independence	Timothy Olson	11,876	4.28
	Constitution	Richard (George) Burton	2,492	0.90
	Write-In	Others	132	0.05
Total votes			277,081	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

External links

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Race Profile at The New York Times

References[]

External links[]

• 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.org
• 2010 Minnesota General Election graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Campaign 2010 at Minnesota Public Radio News