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 Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...

and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.

Overview

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 The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. There are 134 members, twice as many as the Minnesota Senate. Floor sessions are held in the north wing of the State Capitol in Saint ...

on May 13 and the

Minnesota Senate The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any U.S. state legislature. Floor sessions are h ...

on May 18, but was

veto A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto ...

ed by Democratic

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Mark Dayton Mark Brandt Dayton (born January 26, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Minnesota from 2011 to 2019. He was a United States Senator for Minnesota from 2001 to 2007, and the Minnesota State Auditor from 1991 to ...

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 Timothy James Walz ( ; born April 6, 1964) is an American politician and retired educator. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019. Born in West Point, Nebraska, Wal ...

, who has represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 2007, sought re-election. In redistricting, Murray County, Pipestone County and half of

Cottonwood County Cottonwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,517. Its county seat is Windom. History The county was created on May 23, 1857, named for the river in Germantown Township ("cottonwoo ...

were moved from the 1st district to the 7th and

Wabasha County Wabasha County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,387. Its county seat is Wabasha. Wabasha County is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The recently organized Mi ...

was moved from the 1st district to the

2nd A second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). Second, Seconds or 2nd may also refer to: Mathematics * 2 (number), as an ordinal (also written as ''2nd'' or ''2d'') * Second of arc, an angular measurement unit, ...

; while

Le Sueur County Le Sueur County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,674. Its county seat is Le Center. Le Sueur County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul- Bloomington, ...

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= * Allen Quist, former state representative from legislative district 23B (1983-1989)

=Eliminated in primary

= *

Mike Parry Michael Alan Newton-Parry (born 29 December 1954) is an English journalist and radio presenter. Early life Born in Chester, Parry attended The King's School and completed his education at Trent Polytechnic (now known as Nottingham Trent Unive ...

, 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 Julie A. Rosen (born August 9, 1957) is an American politician serving as a member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represents District 23, which includes all or portions of Blue Earth, Faribault, Jack ...

state senator

Results

General election

Endorsements

Results

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

District 2

Republican John Kline, who has represented

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (current) covers the south Twin Cities metro area and contains all of Scott, Dakota, Goodhue, and Wabasha counties. It also contains part of northern and eastern Rice County including the city of Nort ...

since 2003, sought re-election. In redistricting,

and Rice County were moved from the 2nd district to the 1st and

Carver County Carver County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is mostly farmland and wilderness with many unincorporated townships. As of the 2020 census, the population was 106,922. Its county seat is Chaska. Carver County is named for ...

was moved from the 2nd district to the 3rd and 6th; while West St. Paul and parts of

South St. Paul South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota County, Minnesota, United States, located immediately south and southeast of Saint Paul, Minnesota, St. Paul. It is also east of West St. Paul, Minnesota, West St. Paul. The population ...

were moved from the

4th district Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...

to the 2nd. The 2nd district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats, but continues to favor Republicans.

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= * John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

=Eliminated in primary

= * David Gerson

Results

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.

Candidates

=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

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

Despite a strong challenge from Obermueller, Kline prevailed.

District 3

Republican

Erik Paulsen Erik Philip Paulsen (born May 14, 1965) is an American businessman and politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Minnesota House of Representati ...

, who has represented Minnesota's 3rd congressional district since 2009 sought re-election. In redistricting, the 3rd district was expanded to include eastern

, while part of the northeastern

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is commonly known as the Twin Cities ...

metro area was moved to the

5th Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a contagious rash tha ...

. The district was made more favorable to Republicans.

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

=Eliminated in primary

= * John W. Howard III

Results

Democratic primary

Brian Barnes, an Edina businessman and former Navy Reserve officer and Sharon Sund, a Plymouth

scientist A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosoph ...

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 Hennepin County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its county seat is Minneapolis, the state's most populous city. The county is named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. The county extends from Minneapo ...

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Candidates

=Nominee

= * Brian Barnes, businessman and former Navy Reserve officer

=Withdrawn

= * Sharon Sund, Plymouth

and small-business owner

Results

General election

Endorsements

Results

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

District 4

Democrat

Betty McCollum Betty Louise McCollum (born July 12, 1954) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). McCollum's district centers on St. Paul, Minnesota's ...

, who has represented

Minnesota's 4th congressional district Minnesota's 4th congressional district covers nearly all of Ramsey County, and part of Washington County. It includes all of St. Paul, and most of its suburbs. The district is solidly Democratic, with a CPVI of D+14. It is currently repres ...

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 Michele Marie Bachmann (; née Amble; born April 6, 1956) is an American politician who was the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for from 2007 until 2015. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

, who has represented

Minnesota's 6th congressional district Minnesota's 6th congressional district includes most or all of Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Anoka, and Washington counties. Many of the Twin Cities' northern and northwestern suburbs are included within the boundaries of t ...

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

=Eliminated in primary

= * Diana Longrie, former

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

of Maplewood (2005-2009) * Brian Stalboerger

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= * Tony Hernandez, businessman and candidate for Senate in

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

=Eliminated in primary

= * Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College

=Withdrawn

= * Dan Flood, retired

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...

officer

=Declined

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 6th district

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

* Steve Carlson

Results

General election

Endorsements

Results

District 5

Minnesota's 5th congressional district Minnesota's 5th congressional district is a geographically small urban and suburban congressional district in Minnesota. It covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey countie ...

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 Brooklyn Center is a first-ring suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. In 1911, the area became a village formed from parts of Brooklyn Township and Crystal Lake Township. I ...

, Edina and

Minnetonka Minnetonka ( ) is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. A western suburb of the Twin Cities, Minnetonka is located about west of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 53,781. Minnetonka is the ...

, and continues to strongly favor Democrats.

Democratic primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= * Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative

=Eliminated in primary

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

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= * Chris Fields, retired

U.S. Marine The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through com ...

Results

General election

Endorsements

Results

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

District 6

, who has represented

since 2007 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, sought re-election. In redistricting, the 6th district was expanded to include

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.

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

=Eliminated in primary

= * Aubrey Immelman, candidate for this seat in

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

* Stephen Thompson

=Withdrawn

= * Ron Seiford, adjunct business instructor at Globe College

Results

Democratic primary

Jim Graves James Joseph Graves (born September 27, 1953) is an American businessman and founder of the nationwide AmericInn hotel franchise. He was the Democratic Party nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota's 6th congressional ...

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

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, hotel executive

=Withdrawn

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

Results

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

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

District 7

Democrat

Collin Peterson Collin Clark Peterson (born June 29, 1944) is an American accountant and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1991 to 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, or the DFL. he was chairman of the Ho ...

, who has represented

Minnesota's 7th congressional district Minnesota's 7th congressional district covers the majority of western Minnesota. It is by far the state's largest district, and has a very rural character. Except for a few southern counties in the 1st district, the 7th includes almost all o ...

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *Lee Byberg, business executive and nominee for this seat in 2010 and state senator Gretchen Hoffman,

=Withdrawn

= * Gretchen Hoffman, state senator

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

District 8

Republican

Chip Cravaack Raymond John "Chip" Cravaack (born December 29, 1959) is an American educator, former pilot and former politician who was the U.S. representative for northeastern from 2011 to 2013. In his first run for political office, he upset 18-term Democ ...

, who was first elected to represent

Minnesota's 8th congressional district Minnesota's 8th congressional district covers the northeastern part of Minnesota. It is anchored by Duluth, the state's fourth-largest city. It also includes most of the Mesabi & Vermilion iron ranges, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in th ...

in 2010, sought re-election. In redistricting, the 8th district was not significantly changed and remained competitive.

Republican primary

Candidates

=Nominee

= *

, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

=Nominee

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

=Eliminated in primary

= * Jeff Anderson, former

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

City Councilor (2007-2011) *

Tarryl Clark Tarryl Lynn Clark (born July 31, 1961) is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate. A Democrat, she represented District 15, including portions of Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties, from 2006 to 2011. She was a ...

, 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 Alan Stuart Franken (born May 21, 1951) is an American comedian, politician, media personality, and author who served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 2009 to 2018. He gained fame as a writer and performer on the television comed ...

=Declined

= *

Tom Bakk Thomas M. Bakk ( ; born June 8, 1954) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. Currently independent and a former member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Bakk represents District 3, which includes portions ...

, State senate minority leader * Carly Melin, State representative *

Don Ness Don Ness (born January 9, 1974) is an American politician who served as the 38th Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota from 2008 to 2016. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Early life and education Ness was born in Duluth to Don ...

, Mayor of Duluth *

Roger Reinert Roger Jonathon Reinert (born July 22, 1970) is an American politician, mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, and member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). He served in the Minnesota House from 2009 to 2011 and the Minnesota Senate ...

, state senator * Tom Rukavina, state representative *

Tony Sertich Anthony 'Tony' Sertich (born January 2, 1976) is a Minnesota politician and a former commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. A Democrat, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011, represent ...

, former state house majority leader *

Yvonne Prettner Solon Yvonne Prettner Solon (born February 3, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Minnesota, from 2011 to 2015. She is the sixth consecutive woman to serve in that capacity and is a member of the Democratic-Fa ...

, 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.

Endorsements

Results

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

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

References

External links

Elections & Voting
from the ''Minnesota Secretary of State''
Official candidate list

2012 elections results

2012 Candidate filingsUnited States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2012
at Ballotpedia
Minnesota U.S. House
from OurCampaigns.com
Campaign contributions for Minnesota congressional races
from

OpenSecrets OpenSecrets is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from a merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP) ...

Outside spending
at the Sunlight Foundation
Campaign 2012
at

Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, YourClassical MPR and The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest. MPR ha ...

News {{United States elections, 2012

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...