2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota took place in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 4, 2014, to elect Minnesota's eight representatives in the United States House of Representatives for two-year terms, one from each of Minnesota's eight congressional districts. Primary elections were held on August 12, 2014.

In these elections, Minnesotans elected their oldest U.S. House delegation across the 80 cycles since statehood, at an average age of 58.8 years: Rick Nolan (age 70), Collin Peterson (70), John Kline (67), Betty McCollum (60), Keith Ellison (51), Tom Emmer (53), Tim Walz (50) and Erik Paulsen (49).

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic-Farmer-Labor8985,76050.20562.50Republican8913,53946.53337.50Independence450,8362.5900.0Green111,4500.5800.0Write-in81,9540.1000.0Total291,963,539100.08100.0

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

DistrictDemocratic (DFL)RepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 122,851 54.19% 103,536 45.67% 308 0.14% 226,695 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 2 95,565 38.87% 137,778 56.04% 12,505 5.09% 245,848 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 3 101,846 37.78% 167,515 62.14% 224 0.08% 269,585 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 4 147,857 61.19% 79,492 32.90% 14,288 5.91% 241,637 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 167,079 70.79% 56,577 23.97% 12,354 5.24% 236,010 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 90,926 38.39% 133,328 56.29% 12,592 5.32% 236,846 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 130,546 54.21% 109,955 45.66% 334 0.14% 240,835 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 129,090 48.52% 125,358 47.11% 11,635 4.37% 266,083 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 985,760 50.20% 913,539 46.53% 64,240 3.27% 1,963,539 100.0%

District 1

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 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimWalz (DFL) JimHagedorn (R) UndecidedNew York Times/CBS News Battleground TrackerNew York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker October 16–23, 2014 329 ± 8.0% 47% 36% 17%Harper Polling (R-Hagedorn)Harper Polling (R-Hagedorn) September 9–10, 2014 437 ± 4.7% 38% 32% 31%

Tim Walz vs. generic opponent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimWalz (DFL) GenericOpponent UndecidedHarper Polling (R-Hagedorn) September 9–10, 2014 437 ± 4.7% 34% 39% 27% Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican UndecidedHarper Polling (R-Hagedorn) September 9–10, 2014 437 ± 4.7% 34% 40% 26%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Tim Walz (DFL) $1,575,565 $1,559,503 $79,299 Jim Hagedorn (R) $240,931 $238,634 $2,297

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Tim Walz (DFL) $3,734 $0 Jim Hagedorn (R) $896 $0

District 2

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 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKline (R) MikeObermueller (DFL) PaulaOverby (I) UndecidedNew York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker October 16–23, 2014 450 ± 7.0% 48% 34% 0% 18%Remington Research GroupRemington Research Group September 18–21, 2014 568 ± 4.1% 54% 32% 4% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 21–22, 2013 825 ± 3.4% 38% 42% — 20%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand John Kline (R) $2,776,558 $3,226,367 $115,781 Mike Obermueller (DFL) $933,588 $933,332 $12,263 Paula Overby (I) $8,755 $8,472 $0

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed John Kline (R) $6,438 $51,420 Mike Obermueller (DFL) $0 $0 Paula Overby (I) $0 $0

District 3

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 Poll sourceDate(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ErikPaulsen (R) SharonSund (DFL) UndecidedNew York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker October 16–23, 2014 271 ± 8.0% 51% 40% 8%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Erik Paulsen (R) $3,196,226 $2,695,111 $1,194,961 Sharon Sund (DFL) $156,135 $127,647 $28,981

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Erik Paulsen (R) $7,259 $0 Sharon Sund (DFL) $0 $0

District 4

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 Poll sourceDate(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BettyMcCollum (DFL) SharnaWahlgren (R) DaveThomas (I) UndecidedNew York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker October 16–23, 2014 251 ± 9.0% 56% 32% 1% 11%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Betty McCollum (DFL) $863,235 $740,086 $171,163 Sharna Wahlgren (R) $131,727 $130,282 $1,445 Dave Thomas (I) Unreported

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Betty McCollum (DFL) $3,679 $0 Sharna Wahlgren (R) $0 $0 Dave Thomas (I) $0 $0

District 5

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 Poll sourceDate(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KeithEllison (DFL) DougDaggett (R) LeeBauer (I) UndecidedNew York Times/CBS News Battleground Tracker October 16–23, 2014 266 ± 9.0% 74% 23% 1% 3%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Keith Ellison (DFL) $2,090,932 $1,984,754 $162,748 Doug Daggett (R) $41,565 $39,019 $2,346 Lee Bauer (I) Unreported

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Keith Ellison (DFL) $1,842 $0 Doug Daggett (R) $0 $0 Lee Bauer (I) $0 $0

District 6

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