Minnesota House
Filing Deadline: July 15, 2008 • Primary Date: Sept. 9, 2008 • General Election: Nov. 4, 2008District Profile: The 1st District includes the state's two southern tiers of counties, running along I-90 just north of the Iowa border. Full Profile
2006 results: Tim Walz (DFL) defeated Gil Gutknecht (R) by 53-47%.
Incumbent
Tim Walz (DFL)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Walz was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Brian Davis (R)Davis, a physician, was nominated with 67% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: In 1998, this was Jesse Ventura country. In that three-way race, he carried each of the counties in the district, with a sharply increased turnout. Full Profile
2006 results: John Kline (R) defeated Coleen Rowley (DFL) by 56-40%.
Incumbent
John Kline (R)
Elected in 2002; Seeking fourth term; Kline was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Steve Sarvi (DFL)Sarvi, the former Watertown mayor, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: This area trended Democratic in the 1990s. The 3rd may be the home of Minnesota's traditional GOP establishment, but it voted just 51 percent for George W. Bush in 2004. Full Profile
2006 results: Jim Ramstad (R) defeated Wendy Wilde (DFL) by 65-35%.
Republicans
Erik Paulsen (R)
Paulsen, a state representative, was unopposed in the primary.
Democrats
Ashwin Madia (DFL)Madia, an attorney and Iraq war veteran, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 4th District seat has been held by the DFL since it elected Eugene McCarthy in 1948, and remains the second-most Democratic district in the state. Full Profile
2006 results: Betty McCollum (DFL) defeated Obi Sium (R) by 70-30%.
Incumbent
Betty McCollum (DFL)
Elected in 2000; Seeking fifth term; McCollum was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Ed Matthews (R)Matthews, a certified public accountant, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 5th is the most heavily Democratic district in the state. Al Gore and John Kerry carried it by more than 2-to-1 margins. Full Profile
2006 results: Keith Ellison (DFL) defeated Alan Fine (R) and Tammy Lee (Ind) by 56% to 21% and 21%.
Incumbent
Keith Ellison (DFL)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Ellison was nominated with 84% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: George W. Bush carried the district by 52 percent to 42 percent in 2000 and 57 percent to 42 percent in 2004, the latter his best showing in any Minnesota district. Full Profile
2006 results: Michele Bachmann (R) defeated Patty Wetterling (DFL) and John Binkowski (Ind) by 50% to 42% and 8%, respectively.
Incumbent
Michele Bachmann (R)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Bachmann was nominated with 86% in a two-way primary.
Challengers
Elwyn Tinklenberg (DFL)Tinklenberg, a former state transportation commissioner, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: For three decades this was one of America's prime marginal districts. In 2000 the unpopularity of Clinton administration environmental and gun control policies produced a 54 percent to 40 percent margin for George W. Bush. Full Profile
2006 results: Collin Peterson (DFL) defeated Michael Barrett (R) by 70-29%.
Incumbent
Collin Peterson (DFL)
Elected in 1990; Seeking tenth term; Peterson was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Glen Menze (R)Menze, an accountant and farmer, was nominated with 52% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: This district has been a bulwark of Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party since it was formed in 1944, but there are signs of change. Full Profile
2006 results: James Oberstar (DFL) defeated Rod Grams (R) by 64-34%.
Incumbent
James Oberstar (DFL)
Elected in 1974; Seeking eighteenth term; Oberstar was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Michael Cummins (R)Cummins, a businessman, was unopposed in the primary.
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Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
N.Y.-13
(Open-R)2.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)3.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)4.
Va.-11
(Open-R)5.
Fla.-16
(Mahoney-D)6.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)7.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)8.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)9.
Alaska-AL
(Young-R)10.
Fla.-24
(Feeney-R)11.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)12.
Colo.-04
(Musgrave-R)13.
Mich.-09
(Knollenberg-R)14.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)15.
Minn.-06
(Bachmann-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous Minnesota house races.
