| Election Name: | 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Seats For Election: | All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Last Election1: | 5 seats, 52.90% |
| Seats Before1: | 5 |
| Seats1: | 5 |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,612,480 |
| Percentage1: | 57.53% |
| Swing1: | 4.63% |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Last Election2: | 3 seats, 42.43% |
| Seats Before2: | 3 |
| Seats2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,069,015 |
| Percentage2: | 38.14% |
| Swing2: | 4.29% |
| Map2 Caption: | Democratic Republican |
The 2008 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 4, 2008. All 8 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.
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 well as 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.
| Party | Candidates | Votes[1] | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | +/– | % | ||||||
| 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 | |||
Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:
| scope=col rowspan=3 | District | scope=col colspan=2 | Democratic | scope=col colspan=2 | Republican | scope=col colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Others | scope=col colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Total | scope=col rowspan=3 | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=col colspan=2 style="background:" | ! | scope=col colspan=2 style="background:" | |||||||||||||
| scope=col data-sort-type="number" | Votes ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | % ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | Votes ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | % ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | Votes ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | % ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | Votes ! | scope=col data-sort-type="number" | % |
| 207,753 | 62.50% | 109,453 | 32.93% | 15,194 | 4.57% | 332,400 | 100.0% | Democratic hold | |||||||
| 164,093 | 42.55% | 220,924 | 57.29% | 639 | 0.16% | 385,656 | 100.0% | Republican hold | |||||||
| 150,787 | 40.85% | 178,932 | 48.48% | 39,385 | 10.67% | 369,104 | 100.0% | Republican hold | |||||||
| 216,267 | 68.44% | 98,936 | 31.31% | 815 | 0.26% | 316,018 | 100.0% | Democratic hold | |||||||
| 228,776 | 70.88% | 71,020 | 22.00% | 22,951 | 7.12% | 322,747 | 100.0% | Democratic hold | |||||||
| 175,786 | 43.43% | 187,817 | 46.41% | 41,122 | 10.15% | 404,725 | 100.0% | Republican hold | |||||||
| 227,187 | 72.20% | 87,062 | 27.67% | 431 | 0.14% | 314,680 | 100.0% | Democratic hold | |||||||
| 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% |
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 1st congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 1 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 1 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Tim Walz, official portrait, 110th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Tim Walz |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 207,753 |
| Percentage1: | 62.5% |
| Nominee2: | Brian J. Davis |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote2: | 109,453 |
| Percentage2: | 32.9% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Tim Walz |
| Before Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| After Election: | Tim Walz |
| After Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
See also: Minnesota's 1st congressional district. 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]
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.
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report[7] | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg[8] | November 2, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball[9] | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics[10] | November 7, 2008 | ||
| align=left | CQ Politics[11] | November 6, 2008 |
Walz won a second term, garnering 62.5% of the vote.[12]
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 2 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 2 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Johnkline.jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Kline |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote1: | 220,924 |
| Percentage1: | 57.3% |
| Nominee2: | Steve Sarvi |
| Party2: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 164,093 |
| Percentage2: | 42.5% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | John Kline |
| Before Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| After Election: | John Kline |
| After Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
See also: Minnesota's 2nd congressional district. 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 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.[13]
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.[14] On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party.[15] He was also endorsed by the Independence Party of Minnesota.
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg | November 2, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics | November 7, 2008 | ||
| align=left | CQ Politics | November 6, 2008 |
Kline won garnering 57.3% of the vote.[12]
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 3rd congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 3 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 3 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Erik Paulsen, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Erik Paulsen |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote1: | 178,932 |
| Percentage1: | 48.5% |
| Nominee2: | Ashwin Madia |
| Party2: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 150,787 |
| Percentage2: | 40.9% |
| Image3: | File:3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | David Dillon |
| Party3: | Independence Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote3: | 38,970 |
| Percentage3: | 10.7% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Jim Ramstad |
| Before Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| After Election: | Erik Paulsen |
| After Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
See also: Minnesota's 3rd congressional district. 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.[16] He was re-elected with 64.9% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a PVI of Even.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Erik Paulsen (R) | Ashwin Madia (D) | David Dillon (IP) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[25] | October 29–30, 2008 | 647 | ± 3.9% | align=center | 46% | 41% | 10% | 3% | |
| SurveyUSA[26] | October 26–27, 2008 | 643 | ± 3.9% | align=center | 45% | 44% | 9% | 2% | |
| SurveyUSA[27] | October 6–7, 2008 | 634 | ± 4.0% | 43% | align=center | 46% | 8% | 3% | |
| Bennett, Petts and Normington (D-DCCC)[28] | September 29–30, 2008 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 39% | align=center | 44% | 8% | 9% | |
| SurveyUSA[29] | August 26–28, 2008 | 636 | ± 4.0% | align=center | 44% | 41% | 10% | 6% |
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg | November 2, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics | November 7, 2008 | ||
| align=left | CQ Politics | November 6, 2008 |
Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.[12]
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 4th congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 4 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 4 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Betty McCollum, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Betty McCollum |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 216,267 |
| Percentage1: | 68.4% |
| Nominee2: | Ed Matthews |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote2: | 98,936 |
| Percentage2: | 31.3% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Betty McCollum |
| Before Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| After Election: | Betty McCollum |
| After Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
See also: Minnesota's 4th congressional district. 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]
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.
McCollum won the race, garnering 68.4% of the vote.[12]
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 5 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 5 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Keith Ellison, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Keith Ellison |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 216,267 |
| Percentage1: | 70.9% |
| Nominee2: | Barb Davis White |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote2: | 71,020 |
| Percentage2: | 22.0% |
| Image3: | File:3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | Bill McGaughey |
| Party3: | Independence Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote3: | 22,318 |
| Percentage3: | 6.9% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Keith Ellison |
| Before Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| After Election: | Keith Ellison |
| After Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
See also: Minnesota's 5th congressional district. 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.
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 6th congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 Minnesota's 6th congressional district election |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 6 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Michele Bachmann, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Michele Bachmann |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote1: | 187,817 |
| Percentage1: | 46.4% |
| Nominee2: | El Tinklenberg |
| Party2: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 175,786 |
| Percentage2: | 43.4% |
| Image3: | File:3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | Bob Anderson |
| Party3: | Independence Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote3: | 40,643 |
| Percentage3: | 10.0% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Michele Bachmann |
| Before Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| After Election: | Michele Bachmann |
| After Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
See also: Minnesota's 6th congressional district. 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]
Bachmann won a hard-fought battle against Patty Wetterling in 2006, with the help of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney campaigning on her behalf[32] and a multimillion-dollar warchest.[33]
Bachmann's charges about "anti-American views" shifted the political dynamics of this campaign,[37] 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.[38]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Michele Bachmann (R) | Elwyn Tinklenberg (D) | Bob Anderson (IP) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[39] | October 29–30, 2008 | 625 | ± 4.0% | align=center | 46% | 45% | 6% | 3% | |
| Minnesota Public Radio[40] | October 21–23, 2008 | 430 | ± 4.7% | 43% | align=center | 45% | 5% | 7% | |
| SurveyUSA[41] | October 21–22, 2008 | 621 | ± 4.0% | 44% | align=center | 47% | 6% | 2% | |
| Grove Insight (D-DCCC)[42] | October 10–12, 2008 | 400 | ± 4.9% | align=center | 42% | 38% | 5% | 15% |
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'.[43]
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg | November 2, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball | November 6, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics | November 7, 2008 | ||
| align=left | CQ Politics | November 6, 2008 |
Despite the controversy, Bachmann was re-elected, garnering 46.4% of the vote to Tinklenberg's 43.4% and Anderson's 10%.[12]
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 7th congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 7 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 7 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Collin Peterson, official portrait, 109th Congress (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Collin Peterson |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 227,187 |
| Percentage1: | 72.2% |
| Nominee2: | Glen Menze |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote2: | 87,062 |
| Percentage2: | 27.7% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Collin Peterson |
| Before Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| After Election: | Collin Peterson |
| After Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
See also: Minnesota's 7th congressional district. 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]
As chairman 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.
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.
| Election Name: | 2008 Minnesota's 8th congressional district election |
| Country: | Minnesota |
| Flag Year: | 1983 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 8 |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 8 |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Jim Oberstar in 2009.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jim Oberstar |
| Party1: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 241,831 |
| Percentage1: | 67.7% |
| Nominee2: | Michael Cummins |
| Party2: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Popular Vote2: | 114,871 |
| Percentage2: | 32.2% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Election: | Jim Oberstar |
| Before Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| After Election: | Jim Oberstar |
| After Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
See also: Minnesota's 8th congressional district. 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]
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.
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.