The 2004 congressional elections in Minnesota were held on November 2, 2004, to determine who would represent the state of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives.

Minnesota had eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 109th Congress from January 3, 2005, until January 3, 2007. The election coincided with the 2004 presidential election. All of the incumbents who represented Minnesota in the United States House of Representative in the 108th Congress were re-elected to the 109th Congress.

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic-Farmer-Labor81,399,62451.42450.00Republican81,236,09445.42450.00Independence356,4902.0800.0Green226,9170.9900.0Write-in82,5560.0900.0Total292,721,681100.08100.0

By district Results of the 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 115,088 35.51% 193,132 59.60% 15,835 4.89% 324,055 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 2 147,527 41.11% 206,313 57.49% 283 0.08% 358,892 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 3 126,665 35.29% 231,871 64.61% 356 0.10% 358,892 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 4 182,387 57.48% 105,467 33.24% 29,445 9.28% 317,299 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 218,434 69.67% 76,600 24.43% 18,492 5.90% 313,526 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 173,309 45.94% 203,669 53.99% 246 0.07% 377,224 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 207,628 66.07% 106,349 33.84% 280 0.09% 314,257 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 228,586 65.22% 112,693 32.15% 9,204 2.63% 350,483 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,399,624 51.42% 1,236,094 45.42% 85,963 3.16% 2,721,681 100.0%

District 1

Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 61.5% of the vote in 2002.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Leigh Pomeroy, university professor and member of the Mankato Planning Commission

Withdrawn Joe Mayer, former Rochester City Council member, former chair of the Olmsted County DFL, retired teacher and football coach at Rochester Lourdes High School (Withdrew June 16, due to health issues)

Results

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Gregory Mikkelson, small business owner, farmer and Green nominee for this seat in 2002

Eliminated in primary David Pechulis, Mayor of Preston

Results

General election Champaign With a large financial advance over his opponent, Gutkencht felt confident enough in his re election not to campaign as heavily as previously.

Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Gutknecht easily won a fifth term, defeating second-place Pomeroy by a comfortable 24 percent margin, as Mikkelson placed at an even more distant third.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Gil Gutknecht (R) $839,764 $666,410 $360,607 Leigh Pomeroy (DFL) $59,327 $58,826 $500Gregory Mikkelson (I) $7,196 $7,472 $0

District 2

Incumbent Republican John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was elected with 53.3% of the vote in 2002.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Kline, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Teresa Daly, Burnsville City Councillor

Results

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Doug Williams, perennial candidate

Results

General election Endorsements

Debate Complete video of debate, October 15, 2004

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Kline won a second term, defeating Daly by a 16 percent margin, as Williams finished a very distant third.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand John Kline (R) $1,585,892 $1,600,055 $25,928 Teresa Daly (DFL) $1,193,784 $1,182,465 $11,318 Doug Williams (I) Unreported

District 3

This conservative leaning district encompasses the northern, western, and southern suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Hennepin County and Anoka County. Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 72.0% of the vote in 2002

Republican primary Ramstad faced a primary challenge from Burton Hanson, but won renomination by a margin of nearly 80 percent in the Republican primary.

Candidates Nominee Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Burton Hanson, attorney and nominee for State Supreme Court Chief Justice in 2000

Results

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Deborah Watts, marketing and management consultant

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Ramstad defeated DFL challenger Deborah Watts, easily winning election to his eighth term in Congress.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Jim Ramstad (R) $1,011,873 $921,476 $981,936 Deborah Watts (D) $38,511 $36,064 $2,447

District 4

This district covers most of Ramsey County including all of Saint Paul and several Saint Paul suburbs. Incumbent Democrat Betty McCollum, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 62.2% of the vote in 2002.

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Patrice Bataglia, Dakota County commissioner

Eliminated in primary Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office

Results

Independence primary Candidates Nominee Peter Vento, Antique store owner, son of former U.S. Representative Bruce Vento and candidate for this seat in 2002

Eliminated in primary Bob Cardinal, investment broker and Republican nominee for State Senate District 54 in 1990

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Defeating Bataglia by a comfortable 24 percent margin, McCollum easily won re-election to her third term in Congress, as Vento finished a distant third

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Betty McCollum (DFL) $687,907 $707,384 $124,068 Patrice Bataglia (R) $201,403 $194,717 $6,682 Peter Vento (I) Unreported

District 5

This district covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. Incumbent Democrat Martin Olav Sabo, who had represented the district since 1979, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 67.0% of the vote in 2002.

DFL primary Candidates Martin Olav Sabo, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Dick Franson, former Chief Appraiser for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, industrial salesman, perennial candidate

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Daniel Mathias, courier driver, part time college professor and nominee for this seat in 2002

Results

Green primary Candidates Nominee Jay Pond, video editing and production business owner

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Sabo had no difficulty winning his 14th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Mathias by a margin of more than 45 percent, while Green candidate Jay Pond finished a distant third.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Martin Olav Sabo (DFL) $556,935 $497,073 $222,070 Dan Mathias (R) $13,193 $11,504 $1,708 Jay Pond (G) Unreported

District 6

This district includes most or all of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Anoka, and Washington counties. Incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for election. He was re-elected with 57.3% of the vote in 2002.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mark Kennedy, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Patty Wetterling, child safety advocate, and mother of kidnapping and murder victim Jacob Wetterling

Withdrawn Ted Thompson, banker and former chief of staff to Bill Luther

Declined Tarryl Clark, attorney and social justice advocate

Results

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorMarkKennedy (R)PattyWetterling (D)UndecidedMason-Dixon Opinion Research (5 Eyewitness News)5 Eyewitness News October 31, 2004 357 ±5.3% 53% 36% 11%Mason-Dixon Opinion Research (5 Eyewitness News)5 Eyewitness News October 26, 2004 ? ±5.3% 52% 34% 14%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Kennedy encountered little difficulty winning his third term in Congress, defeating his DFL challenger, child safety advocate Patty Wetterling, by a margin of about 8 percent. This was by far the closest congressional election in Minnesota in 2004.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Mark Kennedy (R) $2,548,403 $2,381,634 $66,218 Patty Wetterling (D) $1,972,867 $1,935,813 $37,053

District 7

This conservative, rural district is based in western Minnesota. Incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 65.3% of the vote in 2002.

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Collin Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee David Sturrock, Marshall City Council member and political science professor

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Peterson faced no difficulty winning his eighth term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger David Sturrock by a landslide 32 percent margin.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Collin Peterson (DFL) $422,906 $524,067 $22,700 David Sturrock (R) $127,022 $127,271 $0

District 8

This district covers the northeastern part of Minnesota and includes Duluth, Hibbing, and the Mesabi Range. Incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar, who had represented the district since 1975, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68.6% of the vote in 2002.

DFL primary Candidates Nominee Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Michael H. Johnson, environmental scientist and commercial pilot

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mark Groettum, attorney and nominee for State House of Representatives, District 5B in 1994 and 1996

Results

Green primary Candidates Nominee Van Presley, physical therapist

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004

Results Oberstar had no difficulty winning his 16th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Mark Groettum by a margin of more than 33 percent, while Green candidate Van Presley finished a very distant third.

Finances Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Jim Oberstar (DFL) $1,121,919 $972,916 $225,310 Mark Groettum (R) $42,714 $41,187 $1,526 Van Presley (G) $6,657 $5,728 $785

References

External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets