Minnesota's 2nd congressional district explained

State:Minnesota
District Number:2
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative:Angie Craig
Party:Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Residence:Prior Lake
English Area:3035[1]
Metric Area:7861
Distribution Ref:[2]
Percent Urban:86.97
Percent Rural:13.03
Population:724,575[3]
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$101,144[4]
Percent White:75.3
Percent Hispanic:7.6
Percent Black:6.2
Percent Asian:5.6
Percent More Than One Race:4.3
Percent Other Race:1.0
Cpvi:D+1[5]

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district covers the south Twin Cities metro area and contains all of Scott, Dakota, and Le Sueur counties. It also contains part of northern and eastern Rice County including the city of Northfield, as well as southern Washington County including the city of Cottage Grove. Lakeville and Eagan are the largest cities in the district. Historically, for many decades in the mid 20th century the 2nd congressional district covered the southwest corner of the state, while the 1st congressional district covered most of this part of the state.

Three of Minnesota's most important rivers run through the district, the Mississippi River, the Minnesota River, and the St. Croix River. Interstate highways I-35 E and I-35 W merge in the district in addition to the north–south thoroughfares of U.S. Routes 169, 61, and 52 and the east–west Route 212. The suburban areas in the northern part of the district blend into the rural farmland in the south. The district's economy includes agriculture, small businesses, and large corporations.

Some of the largest employers in the district are Thomson Reuters, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, 3M, Cambria, and Red Wing Shoes. The district includes Pine Bend Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Minnesota, owned by Koch Industries.

The 2nd district is also home to two private liberal arts colleges: St. Olaf and Carleton, both in Northfield. Shakopee is home to Minnesota's largest amusement park, Valleyfair, as well as Canterbury Park.

Two of Minnesota's oldest cities, Hastings and Red Wing are in the district. The district hosts heritage festivals and town celebrations, such as Kolacky days in Montgomery, the Pine Island Cheese festival, and Shakopee Derby Days.

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district is currently represented by Democrat Angie Craig, who defeated incumbent Republican Jason Lewis in the 2018 election. The district is considered to be highly competitive.[6] [7] [8] [9] Since 2000, the district has been a presidential bellwether, voting for the winner each time.[10]

Election results from statewide races

Year OfficeResultsWinning party
PresidentGeorge W. Bush 53.8%- Al Gore 40.3%Republican
PresidentGeorge W. Bush 56.4% - John Kerry 40.4%Republican
PresidentBarack Obama 49.76%- John McCain 48.32%Democratic
PresidentBarack Obama 49.07% - Mitt Romney 49.01%Democratic
SenateAmy Klobuchar 61.73% - Kurt Bills 34.4%Democratic
PresidentDonald Trump 46.52% - Hillary Clinton 45.33%Republican
2018SenateAmy Klobuchar 58.7% - Jim Newberger 37.5%Democratic
2018Senate (Special)Tina Smith 50.52% - Karin Housley 44.93%Democratic
PresidentJoe Biden 52.18% - Donald Trump 45.37%Democratic
SenateTina Smith 47.9% - Jason Lewis 44.5%Democratic

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historywidth=350 District location
District created March 4, 1861
align=left
Ignatius L. Donnelly
Republicannowrap March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1869
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Lost re-election.
1863–1873
align=left
Eugene McLanahan Wilson
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
Elected in 1868.
Lost re-election.
align=left
John T. Averill
Republicannowrap March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
Elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Horace B. Strait
Republicannowrap March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879
Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Lost re-election.
1873–1883
align=left
Henry Poehler
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Horace B. Strait
Republicannowrap March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1880.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
James Wakefield
Republicannowrap March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Retired.
1883–1893
align=left
John Lind
Republicannowrap March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Retired.

James McCleary
RepublicanMarch 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1907
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine
1903–1915
align=left
Winfield Scott Hammond
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1907 –
January 6, 1915
Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Resigned when elected Governor of Minnesota.
Vacantnowrap January 6, 1915 –
March 3, 1915
align=left
Franklin Ellsworth
Republicannowrap March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1921
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired to run for Governor of Minnesota.
1915–1933
Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan
align=left
Frank Clague
Republicannowrap March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1933
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Retired.
District inactivenowrap March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
All representatives elected
align=left
Elmer Ryan
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1941
Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Retired.
1935–1963
Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Dakota, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, and Watonwan
align=left
Joseph P. O'Hara
Republicannowrap January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1959
Elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Retired.

Ancher Nelsen
RepublicanJanuary 3, 1959 –
December 31, 1974
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Retired and resigned early.
1963–1973
Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan
1973–1983
Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan; parts of Dakota and Hennepin
Vacantnowrap December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
align=left
Tom Hagedorn
Republicannowrap January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1983
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election.
align=left
Vin Weber
Republicannowrap January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired.
1983–1993
Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Grant, Le Sueur, and Wright

David Minge
January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2001
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Lost re-election.
1993–1995
Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Hennepin and Scott
1995–2003
Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Le Sueur, Nicollet, Scott, and Stearns
align=left
Mark Kennedy
Republicannowrap January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2003
Elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the .

John Kline
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2017
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired.
2003–2013

Carver, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, and Scott; parts of Dakota and Washington
2013–2023

Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, and Wabasha; parts of Rice and Washington
align=left
Jason Lewis
Republicannowrap January 3, 2017 –
January 3, 2019
Elected in 2016.
Lost re-election.

Angie Craig
January 3, 2019 –
present
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2023–present

Dakota, Le Sueur, and Scott; parts of Rice and Washington

Recent election results

2002

See main article: 2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2004

See main article: 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2006

See main article: 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2008

See main article: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2010

See main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2012

See main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2014

See main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2016

See main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2018

See main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2020

See main article: article and 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

2022

See main article: article and 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota.

References

44.4789°N -92.8531°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2000 . Minnesota congressional districts by urban and rural population and land area . April 2, 2007 . US Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: US Census Bureau Geography . Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based) . www.census.gov.
  3. Web site: Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau . My Congressional District . www.census.gov.
  4. Web site: Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau . My Congressional District . www.census.gov.
  5. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. en.
  6. Web site: Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080219030633/http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html . February 19, 2008 . March 30, 2007 . The Campaign Legal Center.
  7. News: Sawyer . Liz . May 7, 2016 . Jason Lewis wins GOP endorsement in 2nd Congressional District race . Star Tribune . September 3, 2016 . Sawyer.
  8. News: Montgomery . David . August 24, 2016 . Who's winning in the 2nd District? Candidates' polls disagree . Star Tribune . September 3, 2016.
  9. Web site: Wasserman . David . Primary Results Move MN-02 from Toss Up to Lean Democratic . September 3, 2016 . The Cook Political Report.
  10. Web site: Just 47 House districts flipped in the last three presidential elections. What do they tell us?.