2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

Statewide

Party		Candidates	Votes[1][2]		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	8	1,152,621	52.90	5	1	62.50
	Republican	8	924,636	42.43	3	1	37.50
	Independence	3	85,815	3.94	0		0.0
	Unity	1	5,508	0.25	0		0.0
	Green	1	4,792	0.23	0		0.0
	Constitution	1	3,303	0.15	0		0.0
	Write-in	8	2,299	0.11	0		0.0
Total		30	2,178,974	100.0	8		100.0

By district

Results of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

2006 Minnesota's 1st congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Tim Walz Gil Gutknecht Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 141,556 126,486 Percentage 52.7% 47.1%

County results Precinct results Walz:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Gutknecht:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Gil Gutknecht Republican Elected U.S. Representative Tim Walz Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+1.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Gregory Mikkelson

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tim Walz, high school teacher and retired military officer

Results

General election

Campaign

In his bid for a seventh term in Congress, incumbent Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht faced off against Tim Walz, a high school teacher and the DFL nominee in this swing district based in southern Minnesota.

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

Walz upset Gutknecht by a margin of 5.6%.

2006 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee John Kline Coleen Rowley Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 163,269 116,343 Percentage 56.2% 40.0%

Precinct results Kline:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Rowley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election John Kline Republican Elected U.S. Representative John Kline Republican

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 56.4% of the vote in 2004. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and political activist^[10]

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

2006 Minnesota's 3rd congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Jim Ramstad Wendy Wilde Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 184,333 99,588 Percentage 64.9% 35.0%

Precinct results Ramstad:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Wilde:      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Jim Ramstad Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad Republican

This conservative district that encompassed the northern, western, and southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Hennepin County and Anoka County. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of Even.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Wendy Wilde, local radio host

Eliminated in primary

• Kevin Ray Smith
• Gavin Sullivan

Results

General election

Results

2006 Minnesota's 4th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Betty McCollum Obi Sium Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 172,096 74,797 Percentage 69.5% 30.2%

Precinct results McCollum:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Sium:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Betty McCollum Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Betty McCollum Democratic (DFL)

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 57.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Obi Sium, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employee

Eliminated in primary

• Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office^[12]

Results

General election

Results

2006 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Keith Ellison Alan Fine Tammy Lee Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Independence Popular vote 136,060 52,263 51,456 Percentage 55.6% 21.3% 21.0%

Precinct results Ellison:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Fine:      30–40%      40–50% Lee:      30–40%

U.S. Representative before election Martin Olav Sabo Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Keith Ellison Democratic (DFL)

This district covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. Incumbent Democrat Martin Olav Sabo, who had represented the district since 1979, decided to retire, creating an open seat. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+21.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Keith Ellison, state representative from district 58B since 2003

Eliminated in primary

• Mike Erlandson, chief of staff to Martin Olav Sabo
• Andrew Vincent Favorite
• Gregg A. Iverson
• Paul Ostrow, Minneapolis City Councilor
• Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator from district 46 (1983-2001)
• Patrick J. Wiles

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Alan Fine, businessman

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tammy Lee, former press secretary for United States Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and communications director for Skip Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial campaign

Results

General election

Results

Despite a surprisingly strong performance by Lee, Ellison emerged victorious, and became the first African-American Congressman from Minnesota and the first Muslim in Congress.

2006 Minnesota's 6th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Michele Bachmann Patty Wetterling John Paul Binkowski Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Independence Popular vote 151,248 127,144 23,557 Percentage 50.1% 42.1% 7.8%

Bachmann:      40–50%      50–60% County results Bachmann:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Wetterling:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      40–50%      No votes Precinct results

U.S. Representative before election Mark Kennedy Republican Elected U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann Republican

This district includes most or all of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Anoka, and Washington counties. Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy, who had represented the district since 2007, declined to seek a fourth term in Congress, instead opting to run for Senate in the wake of then-Senator Mark Dayton's retirement. Kennedy was re-elected with 54.0% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+5.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michele Bachmann, state senator^[13]

Withdrawn

• Jay Esmay, businessman^[13]
• Phil Krinkie, state representative^[13]
• Jim Knoblach, state representative^[13]
• Cheri Yecke, former Minnesota Commissioner of Education^[14]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Patty Wetterling, national advocate of children's safety and nominee for this seat in 2004^[15] (endorsed Wetterling)^[15]

Withdrawn

• Scott Mortensen^[14]
• Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Mayor of Blaine^[15]

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Paul Binkowski, project coordinator for Johnson Controls^[16]

General election

Campaign

During the campaign, Wetterling attacked Bachmann for voting against increased restrictions on sex offenders, while Bachmann accused Wetterling of wanting to negotiate with terrorists, charges each denied.^[17]

Predictions

Results

Despite polling that indicated that the race would be close, and although this was the most expensive House race in Minnesota,^[18] Bachmann defeated Wetterling by a large margin, with Binkowski receiving about 8%.

2006 Minnesota's 7th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Collin Peterson Michael J. Barrett Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 179,164 74,557 Percentage 69.7% 29.0%

Peterson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%     80–90% County results Peterson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Barrett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      No votes Precinct results

U.S. Representative before election Collin Peterson Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Collin Peterson Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 66.1% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+6. This conservative, rural district based in western Minnesota had tendency the district's to vote for Republicans at the national level, however Peterson had been able to hold on to his seat with ease since his first election in 1990.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Erik Thompson

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michael J. Barrett, pharmacist

Results

General election

Results

2006 Minnesota's 8th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Jim Oberstar Rod Grams Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 180,670 97,683 Percentage 63.6% 34.4%

Oberstar:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% County results Oberstar:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Grams:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes Precinct results

U.S. Representative before election Jim Oberstar Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar Democratic (DFL)

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 65.2% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+4.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rod Grams, former U.S. Senator

General election

Campaign

Oberstar sought a 17th term and faced former United States Senator Rod Grams, who lived outside the district and had represented the 6th district in Congress twelve years earlier.

Results

Despite Grams's high stature and name recognition, he posed no serious threat to Oberstar, who was re-elected in a landslide.