United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2010

The 2010 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 2, 2010. All eight (8) congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 112th United States Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013.

The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial, 2010 Minnesota House elections and 2010 Minnesota Senate elections occurred on the same date, as well as many local elections and ballot initiatives.

The 111th congressional delegation from the U.S. state of Minnesota had five (5) Democratic Farmer Labor Party members (DFLers) and 3 Republicans. All the incumbents ran successfully for re-election, except District 8's Jim Oberstar, who was defeated in his bid for a 19th term.

Contents

Match-up summary

District Incumbent 2010 Status DFL Republican Independence Constitution
1 Tim Walz Re-elected Tim Walz Randy Demmer Lars Johnson
2 John Kline Re-elected Shelley Madore John Kline
3 Erik Paulsen Re-elected Jim Meffert Erik Paulsen David Dillon Harley Swarm
4 Betty McCollum Re-elected Betty McCollum Teresa Collett
5 Keith Ellison Re-elected Keith Ellison Joel Demos Bill McGaughey
6 Michele Bachmann Re-elected Tarryl Clark Michele Bachmann
7 Collin Peterson Re-elected Collin Peterson Lee Byburg
8 Jim Oberstar Defeated Jim Oberstar Chip Cravaack

District 1

Democrat Tim Walz ran for re-election, challenged by Republican nominee Randy Demmer, Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson (campaign site), and Party Free candidate Lars Johnson (campaign site). Walz won the general election on November 2, 2010, with 49% of the vote to Demmer's 44%.

CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Leans Democratic'.

Polling

Poll Source Dates Administered Tim Walz (D) Randy Demmer (R)
Survey USA October 22-26, 2010 50% 41%
Grove Insight October 18-19, 2010 50% 34%
Survey USA October 12-14, 2010 47% 42%

District 2

Republican John Kline is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.

Kline won the general election on November 2, 2010, 63%-37%.

District 3

Republican Erik Paulsen is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe Republican'.

Paulsen won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-37%.

District 4

Democrat Betty McCollum is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.

McCollum won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-35%.

District 5

Democrat Keith Ellison ran for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress.

Ellison won the general election on November 2, 2010, 68%-24%.

District 6

Democrat Tarryl Clark, the state Senate assistant majority leader, received the endorsement of the DFL Party and was the sole Democratic challenger to Bachmann's seat, Maureen Reed having dropped out of the race in June 2010. Reed, a former University of Minnesota regent chair and a physician, threw her support behind Clark saying she felt "it is time for the DFL to unify behind one candidate in this race".[1][2] Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson and independent Aubrey Immelman also ran.

Michele Bachmann won the general election on November 2, 2010 by a margin of 52% to 38%.[3]

Polling

Bachmann vs. Clark

Poll Source Dates Administered Michele Bachmann (R) Tarryl Clark (D)
Survey USA September 15, 2010 49% 40%
Survey USA ([1]) July 9-11, 2010 48% 39%
Public Policy Polling (Link) December 17-20, 2009 55% 37%

Bachmann vs. Reed

Poll Source Dates Administered Michele Bachmann (R) Maureen Reed (D)
Public Policy Polling (Link) December 17-20, 2009 53% 37%

District 7

Democrat Collin Peterson ran for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.

Peterson won the general election on November 2, 2010, 55%-38%.

District 8

Oberstar lost his bid for a 19th term on November 2, 2010 to Republican Chip Cravaack.[4] Cravaack won 48% of the vote to Oberstar's 47%. CQ Politics had rated the seat as 'Likely Democratic'.

Polling

Poll Source Dates Administered Jim Oberstar (D) Chip Cravaack (R)
SurveyUSA October 25-28, 2010 47% 46%
Public Opinion Strategies September 28-30, 2010 45% 42%

Results

2010 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chip Cravaack 133,474 48.2 +16
Democratic James Oberstar 129,067 46.6 -21
Independence Timothy Olson 11,876 4.3 -

References

External links