The 2008 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 4, 2008. All 8 congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th United States Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011.
The 2008 Presidential election, 2008 Senate election (for the seat held by Republican Norm Coleman), and 2008 Minnesota Legislature elections occurred on the same date, as well as many local elections and ballot initiatives.
The 110th congressional delegation from the U.S. state of Minnesota had 3 Republicans and 5 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members (DFLers). Six were men; two were women. Three were freshmen in the 110th congress. The veterans ranged in experience from Jim Oberstar with 33 years of experience and the chairman of the Transportation Committee to John Kline with just four years of experience.
Overview
District 1
This district extended across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border of Wisconsin. DFLer Tim Walz defeated 6-term Republican Gil Gutknecht in 2006 in somewhat of a surprise victory. Walz had no opponent in the race for the DFL nomination for the seat in the September 12, 2006 primary election. He beat incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht in the general election by a margin of 53% to 47%. Walz is a former teacher and Command Sergeant Major in the National Guard. The district is rated as an R+1 on the CPVI scale. Incumbent Tim Walz was opposed by Brian Davis, a Mayo Clinic physician, who was endorsed by the CD1 Republican Party and Independence Party of Minnesota candidate, Greg Mikkelson. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Leans Democratic'. Walz won the 2008 race, garnering 62.5% of the vote.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2007
Results
Independence Party primary
Candidates
Gregory Mikkelson
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Brian J. Davis, Mayo Clinic physician
Dick Day, State Senator since 1991, former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader (1997-2007)
Results
General election
Results
District 2
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. Republican John Kline held on to the second district seat in 2006, defeating DFL challenger, former FBI agent, Coleen Rowley. The district leans Republican with a CPVI of R+3, and Kline's unwavering support for Bush and the Iraq War did not make him too vulnerable to a challenger in 2008. On October 4, 2007, Iraq War veteran Steve Sarvi announced he would challenge Kline for the seat. His experience also includes being mayor of Watertown, Minnesota and city administrator for Victoria, Minnesota. He believed that a change in U.S. policy in Iraq was needed. On May 3, Sarvi was endorsed by the 2nd District DFL party. Sarvi was also endorsed by the Independence Party of Minnesota. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Republican Favored'. Kline won the 2008 race, garnering 57.3% of the vote.
General election
Results
District 3
This district encompasses the suburbs of Hennepin County to the north, west, and south of Minneapolis. Republican 9-term incumbent Jim Ramstad announced on September 17, 2007 that he would not seek reelection in 2008. Erik Paulsen, a Republican who was the majority leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives when the Republicans held a majority was opposed by DFLer, Ashwin Madia who is an Iraq War veteran. David Dillon of the Independence Party of Minnesota (campaign website) and Harley Swarm of the Constitution Party (campaign website) also competed. The district is rated as an R+1 on the CPVI scale, indicating a district that could swing toward either party. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. Paulsen won the 2008 race, garnering 48.5% of the vote.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Ashwin Madia, Iraq War veteran
Results
Independence Party primary
Candidates
David Dillon
Steev Ramsdell
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Erik Paulsen, State Representative from district 42B since 1995, and former Minnesota House Majority Leader (2003-2007)