2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota


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.
The 2008 presidential election, 2008 Senate election, 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. 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

By district

Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

District 1

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.

Democratic primary

Walz, a former teacher and command sergeant major in the National Guard, 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

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

Walz won a second term, garnering 62.5% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns
Outside Spending

District 2

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.

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.

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. On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Steve Sarvi, Iraq War veteran and former mayor of Watertown
    Withdrawn
  • Dan Powers, construction contractor

    General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

Kline won garnering 57.3% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns
Outside Spending

District 3

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. He was re-elected with 64.9% of the vote in 2006, and the district had a PVI of Even.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

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 Ashwin Madia was able to defeat her at the nominating convention, prompting her withdrawal.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ashwin Madia, attorney and Iraq War veteran
    Withdrawn
  • Terri Bonoff, state senator
  • Jim Hovland, mayor of Edina

    Endorsements

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • David Dillon, businessman
    Eliminated in primary
  • Steev Ramsdell, massage therapy center operator

    Results

Constitution primary

Candidates

Withdrawn
  • Harley Swarm, mechanical engineer

    General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns
Outside Spending

District 4

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. representative

    Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ed Matthews, attorney

    General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

McCollum won the race, garnering 68.4% of the vote.

Finances

Campaigns
Outside Spending

District 5

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. 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

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • William McGaughey, landlord and candidate for U.S. Senator 2002

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns
Outside Spending

District 6

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.

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 and a multimillion-dollar warchest.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Aubrey Immelman, associate professor of psychology

    Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation, former mayor of Blaine, former Methodist minister and candidate for this seat in 2006
    Withdrawn
  • Bob Olson, banker, tax lawyer and nominee for this seat in 1994

    Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Campaign

Bachmann's charges about "anti-American views" shifted the political dynamics of this campaign, 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.
Endorsements

Polling

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'.
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 6, 2008
RothenbergNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear PoliticsNovember 7, 2008
CQ PoliticsNovember 6, 2008