2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

2006 Minnesota's 1st congressional district election

November 7, 2006

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

County results Walz:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%     80–90% Gutknecht:      50–60%

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)

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. Walz upset Gutknecht by a margin of 5.6%.

2006 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election

November 7, 2006

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

Incumbent Republican Congressman John Kline ran for a third term in this conservative district based in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. Kline was opposed in the general election by Coleen Rowley, the DFL nominee and a former FBI agent, whom he defeated by a comfortable margin.

2006 Minnesota's 3rd congressional district election

November 7, 2006

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

Incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad ran for what would be his ninth and final term in the United States Congress from this conservative district that encompassed the northern, western, and southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Hennepin County and Anoka County. Ramstad was opposed in his bid for reelection by the DFL nominee, local radio host Wendy Wilde, and he won overwhelmingly.

2006 Minnesota's 4th congressional district election

November 7, 2006

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)

In this staunchly liberal district comprising St. Paul and some northern suburbs, incumbent DFL Representative Betty McCollum ran for a fourth term, opposed by Republican Obi Sium, an employee of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. McCollum was in no danger of losing her seat, and won reelection with nearly 70% of the vote.

2006 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election

November 7, 2006

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)

Rather than seek a 15th term in Congress, incumbent DFL Congressman Martin Olav Sabo decided to retire, creating an open seat. State Representative Keith Ellison beat out Mike Erlandson, Slabo's chief of staff; Ember Reichgott Junge, a former state senator; and Paul Ostrow, a Minneapolis City Councilman in the DFL primary. In the general election, Ellison faced off against businessman Alan Fine, the Republican nominee, and Tammy Lee, the Independence Party nominee, who had served as press secretary for United States Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and communications director for Skip Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial campaign. The district, based in Minneapolis and some suburbs located in Anoka County and Ramsey County, strongly supported DFL candidates, so Ellison was highly favored in the general election. Indeed, 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

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%

County results Bachmann:      40–50%      50–60%

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

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

Incumbent Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy declined to seek a fourth term in Congress, instead opting to run for Senate in the wake of then-Senator Mark Dayton's retirement. To replace him in this conservative-leaning district that encompassed the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including St. Cloud, State Senator Michele Bachmann clinched the Republican nomination, while Patty Wetterling, a national advocate of children's safety and Kennedy's 2004 opponent, emerged as the DFL nominee once again. They were joined by Minnesota Independence Party candidate John Paul Binkowski. 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.[7] Despite polling that indicated that the race would be close, and although this was the most expensive House race in Minnesota,[8] Bachmann defeated Wetterling by a large margin, with Binkowski receiving about 8%.

2006 Minnesota's 7th congressional district election

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

County results Peterson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%     80–90%

Precinct 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

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

This conservative, rural district based in western Minnesota had been represented by DFL Congressman Collin Peterson since 1991, and this year, Peterson sought a ninth term in Congress. Despite the district's tendency to vote for Republicans at the national level, Peterson had been able to hold on to his seat with ease, and this year proved no different. Opposed by pharmacist Michael J. Barrett, the Republican nominee, and a few independent politicians, Peterson overwhelmingly won reelection with close to 70% of the vote.

2006 Minnesota's 8th congressional district election

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

County results Oberstar:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Precinct 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

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

This liberal-leaning district, based in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota, had been represented since 1975 by DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar, the state's longest-serving Congressman. This year, he 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. Despite Grams's high stature and name recognition, he posed no serious threat to Oberstar, who was reelected in a landslide.