2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2006 congressional elections in Minnesota were held on November 7, 2006, to determine who would represent the state of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives.

Minnesota had eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 110th Congress from January 3, 2007, until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the Senate election and the gubernatorial election.

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic-Farmer-Labor81,152,62152.905 162.50Republican8924,63642.433 137.50Independence385,8153.9400.0Unity15,5080.2500.0Green14,7920.2300.0Constitution13,3030.1500.0Write-in82,2990.1100.0Total302,178,974100.08100.0

By district Results of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 141,556 52.74% 126,486 47.12% 379 0.14% 268,421 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 2 116,343 40.04% 163,269 56.20% 10,928 3.76% 290,540 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 3 99,588 35.04% 184,333 64.85% 323 0.11% 284,244 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 4 172,096 69.54% 74,797 30.23% 573 0.23% 247,466 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 136,060 55.56% 52,263 21.34% 56,582 23.10% 244,905 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 127,144 42.07% 151,248 50.05% 23,796 7.88% 302,188 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 179,164 69.66% 74,557 28.99% 3,473 1.35% 257,194 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 180,670 63.61% 97,683 34.39% 5,663 1.99% 284,016 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,152,621 52.90% 924,636 42.43% 101,717 4.67% 2,178,974 100.0%

District 1

Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+1. This was the first election for this seat since 1992 to be won by a Democrat.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Gregory Mikkelson, small business owner, farmer, Green nominee for this seat in 2002 and Independence nominee for this seat in 2004

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tim Walz, high school teacher and retired Army National Guard NCO

Results

General election Campaign Walz accused Gutknecht of extending tax cuts to "Wall Street" and sought to tie Gutknecht to the unpopular President George W. Bush. A centerpiece of Walz's campaign was his opposition to the Iraq War, as the war's popularity was on the decline.

Endorsements

Debate Complete video of debate, October 26, 2006

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorGilGutknecht (R)TimWalz (D)Undecided RT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics October 24–26 October 24–26, 2006 1,042 (LV) ±3.0% 50% 47% 3% RT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics October 8–10 October 8–10, 2006 1,024 (LV) ±3.1% 48% 47% 5%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006

Results Walz upset Gutknecht by a margin of 5.6%. After his defeat, Gutknecht admitted to Politico that he had been caught "off guard" by Walz.

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Gil Gutknecht (R) $1,364,284 $1,723,707 $1,184 Tim Walz (DFL) $1,299,267 $1,227,636 $78,103

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Gil Gutknecht (R) $137,425 $915,190 Tim Walz (DFL) $546,447 $440,382

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 56.4% of the vote in 2004. The district had a PVI of R+3.

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

Democratic primary In May 2005, Rowley announced that she was considering running against incumbent Kline. At the time of her announcement, she had been living in Apple Valley, Minnesota, for 15 years and had formerly voted and identified as a Republican, but on June 27, she announced that she was entering the race as a DFLer, and on July 6 officially kicked off her campaign at her home.Mark Zdechlik Kline, Rowley provide clear choice on Iraq Minnesota Public Radio, July 26, 2006 On August 18, Rowley attended a vigil in Crawford, Texas, outside President George W. Bush's ranch requesting that the president meet with Cindy Sheehan to answer Sheehan's questions about the War in Iraq and the death of Sheehan's son, Casey.

Candidates Nominee Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and political activist

Withdrawn Sharon Marko, state senator

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Doug Williams, perennial candidate

General election Campaign

On January 3, 2006, an unauthorized professionally retouched image appeared on Rowley's campaign website, depicting Kline, a retired Marine Corps colonel, as Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes. Kline objected to the photo and the Rowley campaign removed the image the same day and initiated an investigation. Rowley quickly apologized.

The Rowley campaign found financing difficult, as opposing an incumbent conservative such as Kline in a conservative district, despite the national environment favouring the Democrats, did not attract money from the most robust Democratic resources, such as the DNC. Ultimately Kline's campaign achieved a 2–1 advantage in raising funds.

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorJohnKline (R)ColeenRowley (D)DouglasWilliams (I)Undecided SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)SurveyUSA October 29–31, 2006 597 (LV) ±4.1% 54% 36% 7% 2% SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)SurveyUSA October 10–15, 2006 519 (LV) ±4.4% 50% 42% 5% 3%

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand John Kline (R) $1,495,470 $1,478,465 $42,933 Coleen Rowley (DFL) $692,476 $690,132 $2,345 Doug Williams (I) Unreported

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed John Kline (R) $5,821 $0 Coleen Rowley (DFL) $43,154 $0 Doug Williams (I) $0 $0

District 3

This conservative district encompassed the northern, western, and southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Hennepin County and Anoka County. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of Even.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Wendy Wilde, broadcaster, news anchor and talk show host

Eliminated in primary Kevin Ray Smith, neuromuscular massage therapist Gavin Sullivan, services coordinator

Results

General election Endorsements

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Jim Ramstad (R) $1,028,886 $1,424,365 $586,456 Wendy Wilde (D) $67,887 $67,861 $24

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Jim Ramstad (R) $5,638 $0 Wendy Wilde (D) $1,060 $0

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 57.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+13.

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

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Obi Sium, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employee

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

Results

General election Endorsements

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Betty McCollum (DFL) $562,752 $611,908 $74,911 Obi Sium (R) $79,223 $75,617 $3,603

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Betty McCollum (DFL) $2,308 $0 Obi Sium (R) $77 $0

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 Martin Olav Sabo, who had represented the district since 1979, decided to retire, creating an open seat. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+21.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Keith Ellison, state representative from district 58B since 2003

Eliminated in primary Mike Erlandson, former chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; former Chief of Staff to Martin Olav Sabo Andrew Vincent Favorite, businessman and former U.S. Navy reservist Gregg A. Iverson, perennial candidate and U.S. Army veteran Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator from district 46 (1983–2001) Paul Ostrow, member of the Minneapolis City Council Patrick J. Wiles, former member of the United Auto Workers Local 879 executive board

Withdrew before primary Gail Dorfman, member of the Hennepin County Commission (endorsed Ellison) Anne Knapp, former Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Employment Security (endorsed Saavedra) Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas(endorsed Ellison) Jon Olson, President of the Minneapolis Parks Board Jorge Saavedra, attorney (endorsed Ellison) Gary Schiff, member of the Minneapolis City Council Erik Thompson, activist (ran in the 7th district)

Declined Mark Andrew, former chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Sharon Sayles Belton, former mayor of Minneapolis Scott Benson, member of the Minneapolis City Council Satveer Chaudhary, state senator Scott Dibble, state senator (endorsed Dorfman) Betty Folliard, former state representative Lisa Goodman, member of the Minneapolis City Council Margaret Anderson Kelliher, state representative (endorsed Ellison) Peter McLaughlin, member of the Hennepin County Commission Mike Opat, member of the Hennepin County Commission (endorsed Dorfman, then Erlandson) R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis Martin Olav Sabo, incumbent U.S. Representative Julie Sabo, former state senator, daughter of Rep Sabo and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2002

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Alan Fine, business consultant and senior lecturer at the Carlson School of Management

Withdrawn Tim Anderson James Turnham

Results

Green primary Candidates Nominee Jay Pond, video editing, production business owner and nominee for this seat in 2004

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Tammy Lee, former press secretary for United States Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and communications director for Skip Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial campaign

Results

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorKeithEllison (D)AlanFine (R)JayPond (G)TammyLee (I)Undecided SurveyUSA (KSTP-TV)SurveyUSA October 31–November 4, 2006 806 (LV) ±3.5% 49% 24% 2% 22% 3%

Predictions

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

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