2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

District 1

Hagedorn:
Tie:
Incumbent Democrat Tim Walz, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 57.5% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of R+1.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tim Walz, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Republican State Representative Mike Benson, Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth and U.S. Army veteran Aaron Miller of Byron all sought the nomination to challenge Walz. Hagedorn and Miller had pledged to abide by the Republican endorsement while Benson did not. On April 5, 2014, Aaron Miller won the GOP endorsement. Benson and Hagedorn then withdrew, though Hagedorn re-entered the race on May 18, expressing concerns that Miller was not dedicating enough time to the race.

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Hagedorn, former congressional affairs officer for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and candidate for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

• Aaron Miller, U.S. Army veteran

Withdrawn

• Mike Benson, state representative

Declined

• Jeremy Miller, state senator

Results

General election

Polling

Tim Walz vs. generic opponent

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 2

Kline:
Obermueller:
Tie: Incumbent Republican John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 54% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of R+2.

Kline was rumoured to be interested in running for Governor of Minnesota or the United States Senate. Instead, he announced he would seek re-election.

Republican primary

David Gerson challenged Kline for the Republican nomination but conceded after Kline won the Republican endorsement.

Candidates

Nominee

• John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Withdrawn

• David Gerson, engineer and candidate for this seat in 2012

Declined

• Kurt Bills, former state representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012
• Chris Gerlach, state senator and Dakota County Commissioner
• Pat Garofalo, state representative
• Kelby Woodard, state representative

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Mike Obermueller, who lost to Kline in 2012, had decided to run again. He won the DFL endorsement on April 26, 2014.

Sona Mehring, the founder of CaringBridge, declared her candidacy, but dropped out of the race three weeks later. Thomas Craft, who volunteered for Obermueller in the 2012 race, declared his candidacy in July 2013 and positioned himself as a fiscally conservative, socially liberal alternative to Kline and Obermueller. Craft ceased his campaign after Obermueller won the DFL endorsement. Eagan quality assurance analyst Paula Overby initially sought the DFL endorsement but withdrew after Obermueller won it and instead became the Independence Party nominee.

Candidates

Nominee

• Mike Obermueller, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2012

Eliminated in primary

• Michael Roberts, Law student, Hamline University and business development executive

Withdrawn

• Thomas Craft, IT consultant
• Sona Mehring, founder of CaringBridge
• Paula Overby, quality assurance analyst (ran for the Independence nomination)

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Paula Overby, quality assurance analyst

Results

General election

The 2014 election in the 2nd district was expected to be one of the tightest congressional races in the country. Kline's district was one of 17 Republican congressional districts to vote for President Barack Obama in 2012, and polling data suggested a Democratic challenger could unseat Kline.

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 3

Paulsen:
Sund:

Incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen, who had represented the district since, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of R+2.

Paulsen considered running for governor or the United States Senate in 2014 before announcing he would seek re-election to the U.S. House instead.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Erik Paulsen, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sharon Sund, businesswoman

Declined

• James Lawrence, businessman
• Don Shelby, former WCCO-TV anchor

General election

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 4

McCollum:
Wahlgren:

Incumbent Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of D+11.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sharna Wahlgren, attorney

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Thomas, educator, firefighter, and Iraq War veteran

General election

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 5

Ellison:
Daggett:

Incumbent Democrat Keith Ellison, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of D+22.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Keith Ellison, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Daggett, sales rep

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Lee Bauer, machinist

General election

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 6

Emmer:
Perske:
Tie:
Incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 51% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of R+10.

Bachmann had won re-election to a fourth term in 2012, defeating DFL nominee Jim Graves by approximately 1.2 points, despite Mitt Romney receiving 56% of the vote in this district in the 2012 presidential election. Facing a rematch with Graves, Bachmann announced on May 29, 2013, that she would not seek re-election.

Republican primary

Former state representative and 2010 gubernatorial nominee Tom Emmer and Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah sought the Republican nomination. Allan Levene, a Kennesaw, Georgia, resident who sought the Republican nomination in four congressional districts in four separate states, including Minnesota, ultimately did not file an affidavit of candidacy.

Candidates

Nominee

• Tom Emmer, former state representative and nominee for Governor in 2010

Eliminated in primary

• Rhonda Sivarajah, Anoka County Commissioner

Withdrawn

• Phil Krinkie, former state representative
• Allan Levene, resident of Georgia running in three other congressional races
• John Pederson, state senator

Declined

• Michele Bachmann, incumbent U.S. Representative

Polling

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Jim Graves, who had previously said he would run again, said he would continue to run after Bachmann retired. However, on May 31, 2013, Graves announced that he was suspending his campaign.

Joe Perske, Mayor of Sartell, Minnesota, was the DFL endorsed candidate and nominee. Judy Adams, a painter and environmental activist, and Jim Read, an author and professor of political science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, both withdrew after failing to win the DFL endorsement.

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Perske, Mayor of Sartell

Withdrawn

• Judy Adams, environmental activist
• Jim Graves, businessman and nominee for the seat in 2012
• Jim Read, professor at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Denney, law student

Results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Vanguard" Program

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 7

Peterson:
Westrom:
Tie:
The 7th district covers almost the entire western side of Minnesota. It is the largest district in the state and one of the largest in the country and includes the cities of Moorhead, Willmar, Alexandria, and Fergus Falls. Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2012 and the district had a PVI of R+6.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

In 2013, Republicans began pressuring Peterson, in hopes of convincing him to retire. His seat was one of only a handful that was represented by a Democrat but was carried by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 election and was seen as a top pick-up opportunity had Peterson retired. Their tactics included airing television advertisements, hiring a press staffer to give opposition research to reporters, hiring a tracker to follow him around his district and record him, and sending mobile billboards with critical statements on them to drive around his hometown. Peterson responded by saying "They don't have anybody else to go after. It's kind of ridiculous, but whatever." After Republicans spread rumors that Peterson was planning to buy a house in Florida and retire there, he said: "I went from neutral on running again to 90 percent just because of this stupid stuff they're doing. You can't let these people be in charge of anything, in my opinion." On March 17, 2014, Peterson officially announced that he was running for re-election, saying, "I still have a lot of work to do."

Candidates

Nominee

• Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Declined

• Paul Marquart, state representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Torrey Westrom, state senator

Declined

• Dan Fabian, state representative
• Mary Franson, state representative
• Bill Ingebrigtsen, state senator
• Morrie Lanning, former state representative
• Marty Seifert, former Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2010 and 2014
• Scott Van Binsbergen, businessman

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 8

Nolan:
Mills:
Tie:
Incumbent Democrat Rick Nolan, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was elected with 54% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of D+1.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rick Nolan, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Stewart Mills III, Mills Fleet Farm executive

Independence primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Eric Meyer

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ray (Skip) Sandman, retired corrections officer

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

References

References

1. Ostermeier, Eric. (November 13, 2014). "Minnesotans Elect Oldest Governor, US House Delegation in State History". Smart Politics.
2. "Election Statistics: 1920 to Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".
3. Haas, Karen L.. (March 9, 2015). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2014". [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
4. "Results for All Congressional Districts, Primary Election". [[Minnesota Secretary of State]].
5. Carlson, Heather J.. (June 17, 2013). "Benson to run for Congress against Walz". [[Post-Bulletin]].
6. Baier, Elizabeth. (September 4, 2013). "Hagedorn launches bid to challenge Walz". [[Minnesota Public Radio]].
7. Carlson, Heather J.. (April 5, 2014). "Miller wins Republican endorsement". [[Post-Bulletin]].
8. Moniz, Josh. (May 18, 2014). "Hagedorn re-entering 1st District race". [[The Free Press (Mankato).
9. Juhl, Mary. (June 15, 2013). "Thanks, but no thanks: Miller won't take on Walz in '14 but isn't ruling out future run". Winona Daily News.
10. [https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/10/30/house-races-battleground-tracker/ New York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker]
11. [http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/hagedorn/mailings/161/attachments/original/Hagedorn_14.09_MN_CD_1_memo.pdf Harper Polling (R-Hagedorn)]
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14. (April 10, 2014). "2014 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
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16. "Results for All Congressional Districts, 2014". Minnesota Secretary of State.
17. Zdechlik, Mark. (April 5, 2014). "Rep. John Kline endorsed for seventh term". [[Minnesota Public Radio]].
18. Henry, Devin. (December 9, 2013). "David Gerson launches second challenge to Kline". [[MinnPost]].
19. Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.. (April 19, 2013). "Kline to seek re-election, not Senate or governor's office". [[Star Tribune]].
20. Salisbury, Bill. (April 26, 2014). "Obermueller wins DFL bid to take on Kline". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
21. Boldt, Megan. (April 24, 2013). "CaringBridge founder Sona Mehring drops out of congressional race". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
22. Bierschbach, Briana. (July 10, 2013). "Kline gets a second DFL challenger: Thomas Craft". Politics in Minnesota.
23. Magan, Christopher. (August 11, 2013). "Eagan woman doesn't want gender identity to define impending run for Congress". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
24. Magan, Christopher. (June 9, 2014). "Independence Party endorses Paula Overby for Congress". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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30. Brucato, Cyndy. (November 7, 2013). "Possible challenger to Paulsen surfaces". [[MinnPost]].
31. (August 9, 2013). "Former WCCO-TV anchor Don Shelby won't run for Congress". [[Star Tribune]].
32. Henry, Devin. (May 29, 2013). "Michele Bachmann announces she will not run for re-election". [[MinnPost]].
33. Salisbury, Bill. (June 5, 2013). "Tom Emmer announces candidacy for Congress". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
34. Belden, Doug. (June 12, 2013). "Bachmann's seat has 3rd contender: Rhonda Sivarajah, Anoka County commissioner". [[St. Paul Pioneer Press.
35. (July 19, 2013). "Republican Phil Krinkie to run for Bachmann's Sixth District seat". [[Star Tribune]].
36. Galloway, Jim. (November 6, 2013). "Running for Congress, in Georgia and three other states – at the same time". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
37. Kimball, Joe. (June 3, 2014). "Phil Krinkie drops out of GOP 6th District congressional race". [[MinnPost]].
38. Sommerhauser, Mark. (January 3, 2014). "Pederson drops 6th District run, says he's undecided on whom to endorse". St. Cloud Times.
39. [https://www.scribd.com/doc/219616866/6th-CD-Poll-Results-Emmer-for-Congress Public Opinion Strategies (R-Emmer)]
40. Henry, Devin. (May 29, 2013). "Graves: Strategy won't change with Bachmann out of the race". [[MinnPost]].
41. Black, Eric. (May 31, 2013). "With Bachmann not running, Jim Graves pulls out of 6th District race". [[MinnPost]].
42. Durkin, Mike. (June 10, 2013). "Democrat Judy Adams jumps into 6th District race". [[KMSP-TV]].
43. Sommerhauser, Mark. (January 14, 2014). "Perske makes run for 6th District seat official". St. Cloud Times.
44. Budig, T.W.. (November 1, 2013). "Political science professor enters 6th District race". Morrison County Record.
45. Sommerhauser, Mark. (May 3, 2014). "Perske gets DFL endorsement in 6th District". St. Cloud Times.
46. Neely, Brett. (May 28, 2013). "GOP pokes at Peterson on healthcare and the IRS". [[Minnesota Public Radio]].
47. Wilson, Reid. (May 23, 2013). "Parties Push For House Retirements". [[National Journal]].
48. Neely, Brett. (June 6, 2013). "Peterson says GOP efforts to push him out having the opposite effect". [[Minnesota Public Radio]].
49. Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.. (March 17, 2014). "Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson will run again". [[Star Tribune]].
50. Henry, David. (December 4, 2013). "State Sen. Torrey Westrom to challenge Collin Peterson". [[MinnPost]].
51. "Young Gun candidates".
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54. [https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-score/2014/09/first-in-score-the-warren-firewall-the-worst-campaigns-of-2014-nra-sits-out-alaska-senate-race-212543 Tarrance Group (R-Westrom)]
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56. [https://images.politico.com/global/2014/02/19/mn-07-memo-es.html Tarrance Group (R-Westrom)]
57. Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.. (June 25, 2013). "Mills Fleet Farm executive to vie for Congress". [[Star Tribune]].
58. "2014 Frontline Democrats". DCCC.
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62. Cahn, Emily. (September 18, 2013). "Minnesota Politicians Wait for Kline, Peterson Exits to Ascend". [[Roll Call]].