2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2010 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 2, 2010. All eight congressional seats in the state's delegation were contested. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served 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 were reelected except District 8's Jim Oberstar, who was defeated in his bid for a 19th term. This left Minnesota with an equal number of Democratic and Republican representatives.

Overview Statewide The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota.

PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic-Farmer-Labor81,002,02647.934 150.00Republican8970,74146.434 150.00Independence784,8164.0500.0Independent523,3871.1200.0Constitution12,4920.1100.0Write-in81,6390.0800.0Total372,090,591100.08100.0

By district Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

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

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 62.5% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+1.

No primary elections were held in the 1st congressional district in 2010.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Randy Demmer, state representative and candidate for this seat in 2008

Withdrawn Jim Engstrand, Minnesota Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel and Iraq veteran Jim Hagedorn, former congressional affairs officer for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and son of former U.S. Representative Tom Hagedorn Frank McKinzie, veteran Allen Quist, former state representative and candidate for governor in 1994 & 1998

Campaign Shortly after launching his campaign, Quist attracted controversy for a speech he gave at the Wabasha County Republicans' December 7 Christmas Party, in which he said: "Our country is being destroyed. Every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom... Terrorism? Yes. That's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals. They aren't liberals. They are radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz: they’re not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country." He also spoke against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, saying: "This is the most insidious, evil piece of legislation I have ever seen in my life... Every one of us has to be totally committed to killing this travesty... I have to kill this bill."

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Steve Wilson, state department diplomat and former Republican candidate for state senator in 2006

Independents Lars Johnson, food safety certification trainer

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorTimWalz (DFL)RandyDemmer (R)StevenWilson (IP)LarsJohnson (I)UndecidedSurvey USASurvey USA October 22–26, 2010 558 (LV) ±4.2% 50% 41% 4% 2% 4%Grove Insight (D)Grove Insight (D) October 18–19, 2010 400 (LV) ±4.9% 50% 34% 5% 13%Survey USASurvey USA October 12–14, 2010 584 (LV) ±4.1% 47% 42% 4% 2% 5%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2010 Rothenberg November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball, November 1, 2010RCPRealClearPolitics, November 1, 2010CQ PoliticsOctober 28, 2010New York Times November 1, 2010FiveThirtyEight November 1, 2010

Results Walz won the general election on November 2 with 49% of the vote to Demmer's 44%.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Tim Walz (DFL) $2,163,759 $2,175,826 $18,461 Randy Demmer (R) $939,331 $893,917 $364 Steve Wilson (I) $25,332 $25,092 $240 Lars Johnson (I) $9,298 $8,215 $584

Outside spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Tim Walz (DFL) $154,188 $550,078 Randy Demmer (R) $216,812 $263,839Steve Wilson (I) $0 $0 Lars Johnson (I) $0 $0

External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times

District 2

Incumbent Republican John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 57.3% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of R+4.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Shelley Madore, former state representative

Eliminated in primary Dan Powers, construction contractor and candidate for this seat in 2008

Campaign Despite losing the DFL endorsement to Powers, Madore remained in the race, much to the anger of a number of party loyalists. She was boosted by questions about Powers's résumé.

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2010 Rothenberg November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2010RCP November 1, 2010CQ PoliticsOctober 28, 2010New York Times November 1, 2010FiveThirtyEight November 1, 2010

Results Kline won the general election on November 2, 63% to 37%.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand John Kline (R) $1,552,172 $1,404,779 $170,270 Shelley Madore (DFL) $88,848 $88,206 $642

Outside spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed John Kline (R) $1,314 $0 Shelley Madore (DFL) $923 $0

External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times

District 3

Incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for reelection. He was elected with 48.5% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of Even.

No primary elections were held in the 3rd congressional district in 2010.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Erik Paulsen, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jim Meffert, former President of the Minnesota Parent-Teacher AssociationGrow, Doug 3rd District Democrat Jim Meffert says he's ready for his steep uphill run against Rep. Erik Paulsen. Minn Post. 16 April 2010.

Withdrawn Maureen Hackett, Air Force veteran and forensic psychiatrist

Declined Terri Bonoff, state senator and candidate for this seat in 2008

General election Campaign Meffert lacked the funds to afford television advertising, but he gained some name recognition from the Paulsen campaign's attack ads. Political analyst David Schultz said, "Given how little money that Meffert has, you would've thought Paulsen would've just ignored Meffert completely and just run a positive campaign." Meffert responded to the attack: "It's the kind of thing that makes people cynical about politics and politicians when you hide behind a big bank account and you throw up an ad that's designed to tear down your opponent." After the Paulsen campaign included a misleading graph in a mailing, Meffert filed an ethics complaint against Paulsen.

Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2010 Rothenberg November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2010RCP November 1, 2010CQ PoliticsOctober 28, 2010New York Times November 1, 2010FiveThirtyEight November 1, 2010

Results Paulsen won the general election on November 2, 59% to 37%.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Erik Paulsen (R) $2,688,948 $2,575,922 $149,536 Jim Meffert (DFL) $529,369 $529,269 $101 Jon Olseon (I) $18,866 $18,646 $219

Outside spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Erik Paulsen (R) $74,163 $0 Jim Meffert (DFL) $923 $0 Jon Olseon (I) $0 $0

External links Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times

District 4

Incumbent Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for reelection. She was reelected with 68.4% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Diana Longrie, attorney and former Mayor of Maplewood

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Teresa Collett, law professor at the University of St. Thomas

Eliminated in primary Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his dental office

Results

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Steve Carlson, consultant and writer

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2010 Rothenberg November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2010RCP November 1, 2010CQ PoliticsOctober 28, 2010New York Times November 1, 2010FiveThirtyEight November 1, 2010

Results McCollum won the general election on November 2, 59% to 35%.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Betty McCollum (DFL) $844,301 $862,848 $58,708 Teresa Collett (R) $216,532 $211,206 $5,532 Steve Carlson (I) Unreported

Outside spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Betty McCollum (DFL) $6,498 $0 Teresa Collett (R) $4,182 $0 Steve Carlson (I) $0 $0

External links from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Race Profile at The New York Times

District 5

Incumbent Keith Ellison, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for reelection. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress. He was reelected with 67.7% of the vote in 2008. The district had a PVI of D+23.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran Barb Davis White, minister, author, civil rights activist and Republican nominee for this seat in 2008

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Joel Demos, banker

Results

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Tom Schrunk, artist and designer

Results

Other candidates Michael Cavlan, political activist, registered nurse and Green nominee for U.S. Senate in 2006 (Independent Progressive) Lynne Torgerson, attorney and candidate for State House, District 59A in 2008 (Independent)

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2010 Rothenberg November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2010RCP November 1, 2010CQ PoliticsOctober 28, 2010New York Times November 1, 2010FiveThirtyEight November 1, 2010

Results Ellison won the general election on November 2, 68% to 24%.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Keith Ellison (DFL) $1,397,497 $1,295,839 $163,579 Joel Demos (R) $95,235 $89,731 $5,667 Tom Schrunk (I) Unreported Michael Cavlan (IC) $3,903 $1,403 $2,500 Lynne Torgerson (I) $60,794 $59,639 $1,155

Outside Spending