2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

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.

By district
Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

District 1
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.

Democratic primary
Walz, a former teacher and Command Sergeant Major in the National Guard had no opponent in the race for the DFL nomination for the seat in the September 12, 2008 primary election.

Nominee

 * Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Brian J. Davis, Mayo Clinic physician

Eliminated in primary

 * Dick Day, state senator and former state senator Majority Leader (1997-2007)

Withdrawn

 * Randy Demmer, state representative
 * Mark Meyer, actuary, lawyer and member of the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School Board

Nominee

 * Gregory Mikkelson

Results
Walz won a second term, garnering 62.5% of the vote.

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 56.2% of the vote in 2006. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Republican primary
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.

Nominee

 * John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary
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. On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party. He was also endorsed by the Independence Party of Minnesota.

Nominee

 * Steve Sarvi, Iraq War veteran and former Mayor of Watertown

Results
Kline won garnering 57.3% of the vote.

District 3


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. He was re-elected with 64.9% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a PVI of Even.

Nominee

 * Erik Paulsen, state representative from district 42B since 1995, and former Minnesota House Majority Leader (2003–2007)

Nominee

 * Ashwin Madia, attorney and Iraq War veteran

Withdrawn

 * Terri Bonoff, state senator
 * Jim Hovland, Mayor of Edina (withdrew March 2008)

Nominee

 * David Dillon, businessman

Eliminated in primary

 * Steev Ramsdell

Withdrawn

 * Harley Swarm

Results
Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.

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 69.5% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a PVI of D+13.

Nominee

 * Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Ed Matthews, attorney

Predictions
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.

Results
McCollum won the race, garnering 68.4% of the vote.

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 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. He was the first African American U.S. Representative from Minnesota as well as the first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress.

Nominee

 * Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Gregg A. Iverson

Nominee

 * Barb Davis White, minister, author, and civil rights activist

Nominee

 * Bill McGaughey

Predictions
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.

District 6


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.

Republican primary
Bachmann won a hard-fought battle against Patty Wetterling in 2006, with the help of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney campaigning on her behalf and a multimillion-dollar warchest.

Nominee

 * Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Aubrey Immelman

Nominee

 * Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation (1999-2002), former Mayor of Blaine, former Methodist minister and candidate for this seat in 2006

Withdrawn

 * Bob Olson, banker, tax lawyer and nominee for this seat in 1994

Nominee

 * Bob Anderson

Campaign
Bachmann's charges about "anti-American views" shifted the political dynamics of this campaign, 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.

Predictions
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'.

Results
Despite the controversy, Bachmann was re-elected, garnering 46.4% of the vote to Tinklenberg's 43.4% and Anderson's 10%.

District 7
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.

Democratic primary
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.

Nominee

 * Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Glen Menze, accountant and nominee for this seat in 2000

Eliminated in primary

 * Alan Roebke, farmer and convicted felon

Predictions
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.

District 8


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.

Democratic primary
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.

Nominee

 * Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Michael Cummins, small business owner

Predictions
CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democratic'.