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
United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2004 [1]
Incumbent RepublicanGil Gutknecht, who had represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 1994, ran against Leigh Pomeroy of the DFL and Gregory Mikkelson of the Independence Party. 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.
Incumbent RepublicanJohn Kline, who was first elected in 2002, ran against Teresa Daly of the DFL and Doug Williams of the Independence Party. Kline won a second term, defeating Daly by a 16 percent margin, as Williams finished a very distant third.
Incumbent RepublicanJim Ramstad, who was first elected in 1990, faced a primary challenge from Burton Hanson, but won renomination by a margin of nearly 80 percent in the Republican primary. In the general election, Ramstad defeated DFL challenger Deborah Watts, easily winning election to his eighth term in Congress.
Incumbent DFLerBetty McCollum, who was first elected in 2000, faced off against Patrice Bataglia of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Peter F. Vento of the Independence Party of Minnesota. 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
DFL primary
Candidates
Betty McCollum, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2001
Jack Shepard, fugitive, alleged arsonist, and former Minneapolis dentist who fled the country after allegedly attempting to burn down his own dental office[3]
Incumbent DFLerMartin Sabo, who was first elected in 1978, was challenged for the nomination by Dick Franson, but Sabo won the primary election by a landslide 82 percent margin. In the general election, 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.
Incumbent RepublicanMark Kennedy, who was first elected in 2000, encountered little difficulty winning his third term in Congress, although the election in Minnesota's 6th congressional district was by far the closest congressional election in Minnesota in 2004. Kennedy defeated his DFL challenger, child safety advocate Patty Wetterling, by a margin of about 8 percent.
Incumbent DFLerCollin Peterson, who was first elected in 1990, faced no difficulty winning his eighth term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger David Sturrock by a landslide 32 percent margin.
Incumbent DFLerJim Oberstar, who was first elected in 1974, was challenged for the nomination by Michael H. Johnson, but Oberstar won the primary election by a landslide 71 percent margin. In the general election, 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.
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