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The 2010 Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives elections took place on November 2, 2010. All eight (8) congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 112th United States Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013.
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The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial, 2010 Minnesota House elections and 2010 Minnesota Senate elections occurred on the same date, as well as many local elections and ballot initiatives.
The 111th congressional delegation from the U.S. state of Minnesota had five (5) Democratic Farmer Labor Party members (DFLers) and 3 Republicans. All the incumbents ran successfully for re-election, except District 8's Jim Oberstar, who was defeated in his bid for a 19th term. This left Minnesota with an even number of Democratic and Republican representatives.
District 1
Democrat Tim Walz ran for re-election, challenged by Republican nominee Randy Demmer, Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson (campaign site), and Party Free candidate Lars Johnson (campaign site). Walz won the general election on November 2, 2010, with 49% of the vote to Demmer's 44%.
CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Leans Democratic'.
District 2
Republican John Kline is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.
Kline won the general election on November 2, 2010, 63%-37%.
District 3
Republican Erik Paulsen is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe Republican'.
Paulsen won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-37%.
District 4
Democrat Betty McCollum is running for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.
McCollum won the general election on November 2, 2010, 59%-35%.
District 5
Democrat Keith Ellison ran for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress.
Ellison won the general election on November 2, 2010, 68%-24%.
District 6
Democrat Tarryl Clark, the state Senate assistant majority leader, received the endorsement of the DFL Party and was the sole Democratic challenger to Bachmann's seat, Maureen Reed having dropped out of the race in June 2010. Reed, a former University of Minnesota regent chair and a physician, threw her support behind Clark saying she felt "it is time for the DFL to unify behind one candidate in this race". Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson and independent Aubrey Immelman also ran.
Michele Bachmann won the general election on November 2, 2010 by a margin of 52% to 38%.
Polling
Bachmann vs. Clark
Bachmann vs. Reed
District 7
Democrat Collin Peterson ran for re-election, and CQ Politics rates the seat as 'Safe'.
Peterson won the general election on November 2, 2010, 55%-38%.
District 8
Jim Oberstar lost his bid for a 19th term on November 2, 2010 to Republican Chip Cravaack. Cravaack won 48% of the vote to Oberstar's 47%. CQ Politics had rated the seat as 'Likely Democratic'.