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
110th Congress from January 3, 2007 until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the
Senate election and the
gubernatorial election.
Incumbent Republican
Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of R+1.
In his bid for a seventh term in Congress, incumbent
Republican Congressman
Gil Gutknecht faced off against
Tim Walz, a high school teacher and the
DFL nominee in this swing district based in southern
Minnesota.
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. Incumbent Republican
John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.4% of the vote in 2004. The district had a
PVI of R+3.
This conservative district that encompassed 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 64.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of Even.
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 57.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of D+13.
Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office[12]
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, decided to retire, creating an open seat. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 1979 and the district had a
PVI of D+21.
Despite a surprisingly strong performance by Lee, Ellison emerged victorious, and became the first
African-American Congressman from Minnesota and the first
Muslim in Congress.
Minnesota's 5th Congressional district election, 2006[2]
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 2007, declined to seek a fourth term in Congress, instead opting to
run for Senate in the wake of then-Senator
Mark Dayton's retirement. He was re-elected with 50.1% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a
PVI of R+5.
During the campaign, Wetterling attacked Bachmann for voting against increased restrictions on sex offenders, while Bachmann accused Wetterling of wanting to negotiate with terrorists, charges each denied.[17]
Despite polling that indicated that the race would be close, and although this was the most expensive House race in
Minnesota,[18] Bachmann defeated Wetterling by a large margin, with Binkowski receiving about 8%.
Minnesota's 6th Congressional district election, 2006 [2]
Incumbent Democrat
Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 66.1% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of R+6. This conservative, rural district based in western
Minnesota had tendency the district's to vote for
Republicans at the national level, however Peterson had been able to hold on to his seat with ease since his first election in 1990.
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 65.2% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a
PVI of D+4.
Oberstar sought a 17th term and faced former
United States SenatorRod Grams, who lived outside the district and had represented the
6th district in Congress twelve years earlier.
Results
Despite Grams's high stature and name recognition, he posed no serious threat to Oberstar, who was re-elected in a landslide.
Minnesota's 8th Congressional district election, 2006 [2]
^
abc"2006 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 6, 2006. Archived from
the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^
abc"2006 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Archived from
the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
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
110th Congress from January 3, 2007 until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the
Senate election and the
gubernatorial election.
Incumbent Republican
Gil Gutknecht, who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of R+1.
In his bid for a seventh term in Congress, incumbent
Republican Congressman
Gil Gutknecht faced off against
Tim Walz, a high school teacher and the
DFL nominee in this swing district based in southern
Minnesota.
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. Incumbent Republican
John Kline, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.4% of the vote in 2004. The district had a
PVI of R+3.
This conservative district that encompassed 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 64.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of Even.
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 57.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of D+13.
Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office[12]
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, decided to retire, creating an open seat. He was re-elected with 69.7% of the vote in 1979 and the district had a
PVI of D+21.
Despite a surprisingly strong performance by Lee, Ellison emerged victorious, and became the first
African-American Congressman from Minnesota and the first
Muslim in Congress.
Minnesota's 5th Congressional district election, 2006[2]
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 2007, declined to seek a fourth term in Congress, instead opting to
run for Senate in the wake of then-Senator
Mark Dayton's retirement. He was re-elected with 50.1% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a
PVI of R+5.
During the campaign, Wetterling attacked Bachmann for voting against increased restrictions on sex offenders, while Bachmann accused Wetterling of wanting to negotiate with terrorists, charges each denied.[17]
Despite polling that indicated that the race would be close, and although this was the most expensive House race in
Minnesota,[18] Bachmann defeated Wetterling by a large margin, with Binkowski receiving about 8%.
Minnesota's 6th Congressional district election, 2006 [2]
Incumbent Democrat
Collin Peterson, who had represented the district since 1991, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 66.1% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a
PVI of R+6. This conservative, rural district based in western
Minnesota had tendency the district's to vote for
Republicans at the national level, however Peterson had been able to hold on to his seat with ease since his first election in 1990.
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 65.2% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a
PVI of D+4.
Oberstar sought a 17th term and faced former
United States SenatorRod Grams, who lived outside the district and had represented the
6th district in Congress twelve years earlier.
Results
Despite Grams's high stature and name recognition, he posed no serious threat to Oberstar, who was re-elected in a landslide.
Minnesota's 8th Congressional district election, 2006 [2]
^
abc"2006 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 6, 2006. Archived from
the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^
abc"2006 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Archived from
the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2023.