2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

The 2002 congressional elections in Minnesota, were held on November 5, 2002 to determine who would represent the state, in the United States House of Representative.

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota

← 2000 November 5, 2002 (2002-11-05) 2004 →
All 8 Minnesota seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Last election 5 seats, 52.21% 3 seats, 42.02% Seats before 5 3 Seats won 4 4 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,097,911 1,029,612 Percentage 49.87% 46.76% Swing 2.34% 4.74%
Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Democratic   60–70%

Map of Minnesota showing all eight districts, as apportioned for Representatives elected in the elections of 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010

Map of Minnesota showing all eight districts, as apportioned for Representatives elected in the elections of 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000

Minnesota had eight seats in the House, and the 2002 congressional election was the first held pursuant to the apportionment made according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 108th Congress from January 3, 2003 until January 3, 2005. The election coincided with a U.S. Senate election and a gubernatorial election. DFLer Bill Luther, formerly of the 6th congressional district, who was redistricted into the 2nd congressional district, was the only incumbent in Minnesota's House delegation who failed to win reelection.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2002 [1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	1,097,911	49.87%	4	-1
	Republican	1,029,612	46.76%	4	+1
	Green	37,708	1.71%	0	—
	Independence	21,484	0.98%	0	—
	Others	14,923	0.68%	0	—
Totals		2,201,638	100.00%	8	—

District 1

2002 Minnesota's 1st congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Gil Gutknecht Steve Andreasen Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 163,570 92,165 Percentage 61.5% 34.7%

Precinct results Gutknecht:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Andreasen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      >90% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Gil Gutknecht Republican Elected U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht Republican

See also: Minnesota's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht, who had represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 1994, ran against Steve Andreasen of the DFL and Greg Mikkelson of the Green Party. Gutknecht easily won a fifth term, defeating second-place Pomeroy by a landslide 26.85 percent margin, as Mikkelson finished at a very distant third.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Steve Andreasen, former Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council (1993-2001).

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Steve Andreasen	19,394	100.00
Total votes			19,394	100.00

Green primary

Candidates

• Greg Mikkelson

Results

Green Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Greg Mikkelson	467	100.00
Total votes			467	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Gil Gutknecht, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1994

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gil Gutknecht (Incumbent)	25,978	100.00
Total votes			25,978	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 1st Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gil Gutknecht (Incumbent)	163,570	61.50
	Democratic (DFL)	Steve Andreasen	92,165	34.65
	Green	Greg Mikkelson	9,964	3.75
	Write-In	Others	283	0.11
Total votes			265,982	100.00
	Republican hold

District 2

2002 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee John Kline Bill Luther Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 152,970 121,121 Percentage 53.3% 42.2%

Precinct results Kline:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Luther:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50%

U.S. Representative before election Bill Luther (6th) Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative John Kline Republican

See also: Minnesota's 2nd congressional district

In the reapportionment that occurred in consequence of the 2000 United States census, Mark Kennedy, the incumbent Republican from the Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, was redistricted into the 6th congressional district, while Bill Luther, the incumbent DFLer from the 6th congressional district was redistricted into the 2nd congressional district. Thus, Luther was forced to run in the new congressional district 2 in the 2002 election, while Kennedy ran in the new congressional district 6.

Luther, who was first elected to Congress in 1994, was unchallenged in the DFL primary. However, in the general election race against Republican challenger John Kline, the more conservative composition of the new district worked against Luther. Luther's campaign was further harmed by political fallout that was created when Samuel Garst, a Luther campaign staffer, entered the race on the "No New Taxes" line in an attempt to use a false flag to split the conservative vote. In the end, Garst was only able to secure 4.33 percent of the vote, and the political damage to Luther contributed to Kline winning the election by a margin of more than 11 percent.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Bill Luther, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1995

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Bill Luther (Incumbent)	14,437	100.00
Total votes			14,437	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Kline, retired Colonel (USMC)

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kline	22,596	100.00
Total votes			22,596	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kline	152,970	53.33
	Democratic (DFL)	Bill Luther (Incumbent)	121,121	42.22
	No New Taxes	Samuel D. Garst	12,430	4.33
	Write-In	Others	339	0.12
Total votes			286,860	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

District 3

2002 Minnesota's 3rd congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Jim Ramstad Darryl Stanton Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 213,334 82,575 Percentage 72.0% 27.9%

Precinct results Ramstad:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Stanton:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Jim Ramstad Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad Republican

See also: Minnesota's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Jim Ramstad, who was first elected in 1990, defeated DFL challenger Darryl Stanton, and won election to his seventh term in Congress, by a landslide 44.14 percent margin.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Darryl Stanton

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Darryl Stanton	14,837	100.00
Total votes			14,837	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Ramstad, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1991

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Ramstad (Incumbent)	26,275	100.00
Total votes			26,275	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 3rd Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Ramstad (Incumbent)	213,334	72.02
	Democratic (DFL)	Darryl Stanton	82,575	27.88
	Write-In	Others	309	0.10
Total votes			296,218	100.00
	Republican hold

District 4

2002 Minnesota's 4th congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Betty McCollum Clyde Billington Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 164,597 89,705 Percentage 62.2% 33.9%

Precinct results McCollum:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Billington:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Betty McCollum Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Betty McCollum Democratic (DFL)

See also: Minnesota's 4th congressional district

Incumbent DFLer Betty McCollum, who was first elected in 2000, faced off against Clyde Billington of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Scott J. Raskiewicz of the Green Party of Minnesota. Defeating Billington by a comfortable 28 percent margin, McCollum easily won her second term in Congress, as Raskiewicz finished a very distant third.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2001

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Betty McCollum (Incumbent)	30,878	100.00
Total votes			30,878	100.00

Green primary

Candidates

• Scott J. Raskiewicz

Results

Green Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Scott J. Raskiewicz	877	100.00
Total votes			877	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Clyde Billington

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Clyde Billington	14,052	100.00
Total votes			14,052	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 4th Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Betty McCollum (Incumbent)	164,597	62.22
	Republican	Clyde Billington	89,705	33.91
	Green	Scott J. Raskiewicz	9,919	3.75
	Write-In	Others	319	0.12
Total votes			264,540	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

District 5

2002 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Martin Olav Sabo Daniel Nielsen Mathias Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 171,572 66,271 Percentage 67.0% 25.9%

Precinct results Sabo:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Mathias:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Martin Olav Sabo Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Martin Olav Sabo Democratic (DFL)

See also: Minnesota's 5th congressional district

Incumbent DFLer Martin Sabo, who was first elected in 1978, had no difficulty winning his 13th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Nielsen Mathias by a margin of just over 41 percent, while Green candidate Tim Davis finished a distant third.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Martin Olav Sabo, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1979

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Martin Olav Sabo (Incumbent)	33,310	100.00
Total votes			33,310	100.00

Green primary

Candidates

• Tim Davis

Results

Green Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Tim Davis	1,635	100.00
Total votes			1,635	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Daniel Nielsen Mathias

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Daniel Nielsen Mathias	9,947	100.00
Total votes			9,947	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 5th Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Martin Olav Sabo (Incumbent)	171,572	67.03
	Republican	Daniel Nielsen Mathias	66,271	25.89
	Green	Tim Davis	17,825	6.96
	Write-In	Others	314	0.12
Total votes			255,982	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

District 6

2002 Minnesota's 6th congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Mark Kennedy Janet Robert Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 164,747 100,738 Percentage 57.3% 35.1%

Precinct results Kennedy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Robert:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Mark Kennedy (2nd) Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy Republican

See also: Minnesota's 6th congressional district

In the reapportionment that occurred in consequence of the 2000 United States census, Mark Kennedy, the incumbent Republican from the Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, was redistricted into the 6th congressional district, while Bill Luther, the incumbent DFLer from the 6th congressional district was redistricted into the 2nd congressional district. Thus, Kennedy was forced to run in the new congressional district 6 in the 2002 election, while Luther ran in the new congressional district 2.

Kennedy, who was first elected in 2000, encountered little difficulty in winning his second term in Congress, defeating DFL challenger Janet Robert by a landslide margin of 22.28 percent, while Independence Party candidate Dan Becker finished a distant third.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Janet Robert

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Janet Robert	16,204	100.00
Total votes			16,204	100.00

Independence primary

Candidates

• Dan Becker

Results

Independence Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Dan Becker	2,199	100.00
Total votes			2,199	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark R. Kennedy, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2001

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark R. Kennedy (Incumbent)	22,239	100.00
Total votes			22,239	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 6th Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark R. Kennedy (Incumbent)	164,747	57.34
	Democratic (DFL)	Janet Robert	100,738	35.06
	Independence	Dan Becker	21,484	7.48
	Write-In	Others	343	0.12
Total votes			287,312	100.00
	Republican hold

District 7

2002 Minnesota's 7th congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Collin Peterson Dan Stevens Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 170,234 90,342 Percentage 65.3% 34.6%

Precinct results Peterson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Stevens:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      40–50%      50%

U.S. Representative before election Collin Peterson Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Collin Peterson Democratic (DFL)

See also: Minnesota's 7th congressional district

Incumbent DFLer Collin Peterson, who was first elected in 1990, faced no difficulty winning his eighth term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Dan Stevens by a landslide 30.63 percent margin.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Collin C. Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1991

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Collin C. Peterson (Incumbent)	35,130	100.00
Total votes			35,130	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dan Stevens

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dan Stevens	29,855	100.00
Total votes			29,855	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 7th Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Collin C. Peterson (Incumbent)	170,234	65.27
	Republican	Dan Stevens	90,342	34.64
	Write-In	Others	237	0.09
Total votes			260,813	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

District 8

2002 Minnesota's 8th congressional district election

← 2000 2004 →

Nominee Jim Oberstar Bob Lemen Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 194,909 88,673 Percentage 68.6% 31.2%

Precinct results Oberstar:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Lemen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Tie:      50%

U.S. Representative before election Jim Oberstar Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar Democratic (DFL)

See also: Minnesota's 8th congressional district

Incumbent DFLer Jim Oberstar, who was first elected in 1974, had no difficulty winning his 15th term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Bob Lemen by a margin of more than 37 percent.

DFL primary

Candidates

• Jim Oberstar, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1975

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	James L. Oberstar (Incumbent)	50,582	100.00
Total votes			50,582	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Lemen
• Warren L. Nelson

Results

Republican Primary Election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Lemen	13,422	50.55
	Republican	Warren L. Nelson	13,132	49.45
Total votes			26,554	100.00

General election

Results

Minnesota's 8th Congressional district election, 2002 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	James L. Oberstar (Incumbent)	194,909	68.65
	Republican	Bob Lemen	88,673	31.23
	Write-In	Others	349	0.12
Total votes			283,931	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

References

1. "Home - Election Results".
2. "Home - Election Results".