2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Minnesota. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.

Redistricting
A redistricting plan was proposed by Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature on May 9, 2011. The plan was passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives on May 13 and the Minnesota Senate on May 18, but was vetoed by Democratic Governor Mark Dayton on May 19.

In February 2012, a state court panel redrew Minnesota's congressional boundaries with the effect of enacting a "least-change" map.

District 1
Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 2007, sought re-election. In redistricting, Murray County, Pipestone County and half of Cottonwood County were moved from the 1st district to the 7th, and Wabasha County was moved from the 1st district to the 2nd, while Le Sueur County and most of Rice County were moved from the 2nd district to the 1st. The 1st district was expected to continue to slightly favor Republicans.

Nominee

 * Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Allen Quist, former state representative from legislative district 23B (1983-1989), candidate for governor in 1994 & 1998 and for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

 * Mike Parry, state senator from senate district 26 since 2010

Declined

 * Randy Demmer, former state representative nominee for this seat in 2010,
 * Steve Drazkowski, state representative
 * Julie Rosen, state senator

Results
Walz handily dispatched Quist in the election, garnering 58% of the vote.

District 2
Republican John Kline, who had represented Minnesota's 2nd congressional district since 2003, sought re-election.

In redistricting, Le Sueur County and Rice County were moved from the 2nd district to the 1st, and Carver County was moved from the 2nd district to the 3rd and 6th, while West St. Paul and parts of South St. Paul were moved from the 4th district to the 2nd. The 2nd district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats, but continues to favor Republicans.

Nominee

 * John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * David Gerson

Democratic primary
Patrick Ganey, a member of the Northfield City Council; Kathleen Gaylord, a member of the Dakota County Commission; former state Representative Mike Obermueller; and Dan Powers, a former small business owner who unsuccessfully sought the DFL nomination in the 2nd district in 2010, sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Kline. At the congressional district convention, the party endorsed Mike Obermueller.

Nominee

 * Mike Obermueller, former state representative from legislative district 38B (2009-2011)

Withdrawn

 * Patrick Ganey, Northfield City Council member
 * Kathleen Gaylord, Dakota County Commission member
 * Dan Powers, former small business owner candidate for this seat in 2010

Results
Despite a strong challenge from Obermueller, Kline prevailed.

District 3
Republican Erik Paulsen, who had represented Minnesota's 3rd congressional district since 2009 sought re-election.

In redistricting, the 3rd district was expanded to include eastern Carver County, while part of the northeastern Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area was moved to the 5th. The district was made more favorable to Republicans.

Nominee

 * Erik Paulsen, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * John W. Howard III

Democratic primary
Brian Barnes, an Edina businessman and former Navy Reserve officer and Sharon Sund, a Plymouth scientist and small-business owner sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Paulsen. In the third district Democratic convention, Barnes won the party endorsement and Sund backed his candidacy. Sund was subsequently elected Chair of the Hennepin County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Nominee

 * Brian Barnes, businessman and former Navy Reserve officer

Withdrawn

 * Sharon Sund, Plymouth scientist and small-business owner

Results
Paulsen received 58% of the vote, defeating Barnes who received 42%.

District 4
Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented Minnesota's 4th congressional district since 2001, sought re-election. In redistricting, the 4th district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans, but continues to strongly favor Democrats.

The home of Republican U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, who had represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2007, was drawn into the 4th district in redistricting; however, Bachmann sought re-election in the 6th district.

McCollum retained her seat, defeating Hernandez.

Nominee

 * Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Diana Longrie, former Mayor of Maplewood (2005-2009)
 * Brian Stalboerger

Nominee

 * Tony Hernandez, businessman and candidate for Senate in 2012

Eliminated in primary

 * Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College

Withdrawn

 * Dan Flood, retired Navy officer

Declined

 * Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 6th district

Candidates

 * Steve Carlson

District 5
Minnesota's 5th congressional district has been represented by Democrat Keith Ellison since 2007. Gary Boisclair, an anti-abortion activist, and Gregg Iverson unsuccessfully challenged Ellison in the Democratic primary. In redistricting, the 5th district was expanded to include parts of Brooklyn Center, Edina and Minnetonka, and continued to strongly favor Democrats.

Nominee

 * Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Gary Boisclair, anti-abortion activist
 * Gregg A. Iverson

Nominee

 * Chris Fields, retired U.S. Marine

Results
Ellison easily defeated Fields, carrying about 75% of the vote.

District 6
Michele Bachmann, who had represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2007 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, sought re-election.

In redistricting, the 6th district was expanded to include Carver County and was made more favorable to Republicans.

Republican primary
Ron Seiford, an adjunct business instructor at Woodbury's Globe College, and Aubrey Immelman unsuccessfully challenged her in the Republican nomination, though Bachmann won by the lowest margin of any incumbent Republican congressional candidate in 50 years.

Nominee

 * Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Aubrey Immelman, candidate for this seat in 2008
 * Stephen Thompson

Withdrawn

 * Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College

Democratic primary
Jim Graves, a hotel executive, won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination at the party's convention in April 2012.

Nominee

 * Jim Graves, hotel executive

Withdrawn

 * Brian McGoldrick, businessman
 * Anne Nolan, attorney and business consultant
 * Mike Starr, substitute teacher

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, November 4, 2012

Results
Bachmann narrowly retained the seat, receiving 4,298 more votes than Graves.

District 7
Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented Minnesota's 7th congressional district since 1991, sought re-election. In redistricting, the 7th district was expanded to include rural counties in southern Minnesota, while cities were moved from the 6th and 8th districts into the 7th.

Nominee

 * Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Lee Byberg, business executive and nominee for this seat in 2010

Withdrawn

 * Gretchen Hoffman, state senator

District 8
Republican Chip Cravaack, who was first elected to represent Minnesota's 8th congressional district in 2010, sought re-election.

In redistricting, the 8th district was not significantly changed and remained competitive.

Nominee

 * Chip Cravaack, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Richard Nolan, former U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (1975-1981)

Eliminated in primary

 * Jeff Anderson, former Duluth City Councilor (2007-2011)
 * Tarryl Clark, former state senator from senate district 15 (2006-2011) and nominee for the 6th district in 2010

Withdrawn

 * Daniel Fanning, former deputy state director for Senator Al Franken

Declined

 * Tom Bakk, State senate minority leader
 * Carly Melin, State representative
 * Don Ness,Mayor of Duluth
 * Roger Reinert, state senator
 * Tom Rukavina, state representative
 * Tony Sertich, former state house majority leader
 * Yvonne Prettner Solon, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Campaign
Nolan was victorious in a February 2012 caucus, receiving 1,537 votes to Anderson's 1,008 and Clark's 408. 269 uncommitted votes were cast.

Delegates to a convention held in May 2012 could endorse one candidate, but candidates who did not receive the party's endorsement were nonetheless able to run in the August 2012 primary.

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 12, 2012

Results
Nolan triumphed over Cravaack, receiving about 55% of the vote.