2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Minnesota, one from each of its congressional districts. Primary elections were held in six districts on August 11. The elections coincided with the 2020 United States presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and other state and local elections.

Due to changing political alignments, the Republican Party flipped the 7th district, which was held by 15-term incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson. This marked the first time since the 1944 election that Republicans won every district in Minnesota outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area, after Democrats had done the same just four years prior. This subsequently erased the slim Democratic majority in the state congressional delegation and gave both political parties a tied 4–4 delegation.

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic-Farmer-Labor81,554,37348.674 150.00Republican81,474,82046.184 150.00Legal Marijuana Now380,4402.5200.0Grassroots—LC479,6742.4900.0Write-in84,5020.1400.0Total263,193,809100.08100.0

By district Results of the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 167,890 45.52% 179,234 48.59% 21,732 5.89% 368,856 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 2 204,534 48.18% 194,954 45.92% 25,024 5.89% 424,512 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 3 246,666 55.60% 196,625 44.32% 312 0.07% 443,603 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 4 245,813 63.17% 112,730 28.97% 30,571 7.86% 389,114 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 255,924 64.27% 102,878 25.83% 39,427 9.90% 398,229 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 140,853 34.16% 270,901 65.70% 553 0.13% 412,307 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 144,840 39.85% 194,066 53.39% 24,571 6.76% 363,477 100.0% Republican gainDistrict 8 147,853 37.55% 223,432 56.75% 22,426 5.70% 393,711 100.0% Republican holdTotal 1,554,373 48.67% 1,474,820 46.18% 164,616 5.15% 3,193,809 100.0%

District 1

The 1st district stretches across southern Minnesota from its borders with South Dakota to Wisconsin, and includes the cities of Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Owatonna, Albert Lea, New Ulm, and Worthington. The incumbent was Republican Jim Hagedorn, who flipped the district and was elected with 50.1% of the vote in 2018.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Hagedorn, incumbent U.S. representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dan Feehan, U.S. Army veteran, former U.S. Department of Defense official, and nominee for Minnesota's 1st congressional district in 2018

Withdrawn Ralph Kaehler, farmer

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Candidates Nominee Bill Rood

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JimHagedorn (R) DanFeehan (DFL) Other/Undecided Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) September 10–11, 2020 885 (V) ± 3.3% 41% 41% 18% RMG ResearchRMG Research July 31 – August 7, 2020 500 (RV) ±  4.5%41% 38% 22% Victoria Research & Consulting (D)Victoria Research & Consulting (D) July 19–23, 2020 511 (LV) ±  4.4% 46%48% 6% Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (D)Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (D) June 9–13, 2020 601 (LV) ±  4.1% 2%43% 15% Harper Polling (R)Harper Polling (R) March 10–12, 2020 406 (LV) ±  4.9%49% 33% 18%

with Generic Republican and Generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat Other/UndecidedVictoria Research & Consulting (D) July 19–23, 2020 511 (LV) ±  4.4%44%49%8%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 21, 2020 Inside Elections October 29, 2020 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoOctober 11, 2020Daily KosJuly 21, 2020RCPJune 9, 2020NiskanenJuly 26, 2020

Results

District 2

The 2nd district is based in the south Twin Cities area. The incumbent was Democrat Angie Craig, who defeated incumbent Republican Jason Lewis with 52.7% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Angie Craig, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tyler Kistner, former Marine

Withdrawn Regina Barr, former state representative Erika Cashin, U.S. Air Force veteran Edward Moritz Rick Olson, former Michigan state representative Phillip Parrish, U.S. Naval intelligence officer Kerry Zeiler

Declined John Howe, former state senator and nominee for Minnesota Secretary of State in 2018 Jason Lewis, former U.S. representative (running for U.S. Senate) Eric Pratt, state senator (running for re-election to the MN Senate) Doug Wardlow, former state representative and nominee for Minnesota Attorney General in 2018

Endorsements

General election Campaign After Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Charles Weeks died on September 21, 2020, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced that the votes in the November election would not be counted and that a special election would take place on February 9, 2021, due to an obscure state law which said that if a major-party candidate died within 79 days of an election, the election must be postponed. Craig challenged the law in court, arguing that Minnesota did not have the authority to delay a federal election; the judge agreed, ordering that the election be held on November 3 as originally planned. Although Republicans appealed the decision, it stood after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal.

A month after Weeks's death, and a week before the November 3 election, a friend of Weeks publicized a voicemail recording in which Weeks says that Republican donors offered him $15,000 to mount a campaign in order to siphon votes away from Craig. Jeff Schuette, Minnesota Republican Party chair for the Second District, denied involvement in the offer to fund Weeks's campaign.

Endorsements

Forum + 2020 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district candidate forum Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Angie Craig Tyler Kistner1 Oct. 8, 2020 Dakota County Regional Chamber of CommerceEagan Television Maureen Scallon FailorYouTube

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror AngieCraig (DFL) TylerKistner (R) AdamWeeks (LMN) Undecided Normington, Petts & Associates (D)Normington, Petts & Associates (D) October 12–14, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4.9%53% 35% 4% – Harper Polling (R)Harper Polling (R) July 6–8, 2020 401 (LV) –45% 36% 6% –

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Undecided Harper Polling (R) July 6–8, 2020 401 (LV) – 44% 44% –

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 21, 2020 Inside Elections June 2, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball July 2, 2020PoliticoApril 19, 2020Daily Kos June 3, 2020RCPJune 9, 2020NiskanenJune 7, 2020

Results

District 3

The 3rd district encompasses the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids to the northeast, Bloomington to the south, and Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Wayzata to the west. The incumbent was Democrat Dean Phillips, who defeated incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen with 55.6% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dean Phillips, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Cole Young

Primary results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Kendall Qualls, businessman

Eliminated in primary Leslie Davis

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report July 17, 2020 Inside Elections June 2, 2020 Sabato's Crystal BallJuly 2, 2020PoliticoApril 19, 2020Daily KosJune 3, 2020RCPOctober 24, 2020NiskanenJune 7, 2020

Results

District 4

The 4th district encompasses the Saint Paul half of the Twin Cities metro area, including Ramsey County and parts of Washington County. The incumbent was Democrat Betty McCollum, who was reelected with 66.0% of the vote in 2018.

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

Eliminated in primary Tiffini Flynn Forslund Alberder Gillespie Reid Rossell David Sandbeck, activist

Primary results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Gene Rechtzigel, farmer

Eliminated in primary Sia Lo, former deputy city attorney

Primary results

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis primary Candidates Nominee Susan Sindt, LMN candidate for Minnesota's 4th congressional district in 2016 and 2018

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report July 2, 2020 Inside Elections June 2, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball July 2, 2020PoliticoApril 19, 2020Daily Kos June 3, 2020RCPJune 9, 2020NiskanenJune 7, 2020

Results

District 5

The 5th district encompasses eastern Hennepin County, including all of Minneapolis and the cities of St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, New Hope, and Fridley. The incumbent was Democrat Ilhan Omar, who was elected with 78.0% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Omar defeated Melton-Meaux in the primary by a significant margin, a win which was seen as unsurprising, as the 5th has a reputation as being a strong base of progressivism.

Candidates Nominee Ilhan Omar, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Les Lester, author and teacher John Mason, activist Daniel Patrick McCarthy Antone Melton-Meaux, attorney

Withdrawn Leila Shukri Adan (endorsed Melton-Meaux) Ervan Katari Miller Haji Yussuf (endorsed Omar)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror IlhanOmar AntoneMelton-Meaux Other/Undecided Change ResearchChange Research July 7–9, 2020 509 (LV) ±  4.3%66% 29% 5%

Primary results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lacy Johnson, former IT consultant

Eliminated in primary Dalia al-Aqidi, journalist Danielle Stella, teacher

Endorsements

Primary results

Legal Marijuana Now primary Candidates Nominee Michael Moore

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report July 2, 2020 Inside Elections June 2, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball July 2, 2020PoliticoApril 19, 2020Daily Kos June 3, 2020RCPJune 9, 2020NiskanenJune 7, 2020

Results

District 6

The 6th district encompasses the northern suburbs and exurbs of Minneapolis, including all of Benton, Sherburne, and Wright counties and parts of Anoka, Carver, Stearns, and Washington counties. The incumbent was Republican Tom Emmer, who was reelected with 61.1% of the vote in 2018.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Emmer, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Patrick Munro, candidate for Minnesota's 6th congressional district in 2016 and 2018

Primary results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tawnja Zahradka, broadcaster and former Ms. Minnesota-America

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report July 2, 2020 Inside Elections June 2, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball July 2, 2020PoliticoApril 19, 2020Daily Kos June 3, 2020RCPJune 9, 2020NiskanenJune 7, 2020

Results

District 7

The 7th district covers all but the southern end of rural western Minnesota, and includes the cities of Moorhead, Willmar, Alexandria, and Fergus Falls. The incumbent was Democrat Collin Peterson, who was reelected with 52.1% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Stephen A. Emery, sales representative Alycia Gruenhagen

Endorsements

Primary results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Michelle Fischbach, former lieutenant governor of Minnesota and former president of the Minnesota Senate

Eliminated in primary Noel Collis, gastroenterologist