Minnesota 2008 General Election

The Green Papers: Minnesota 2008 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.

Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/

Minnesota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 9 September 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Electoral Votes:	10	(1.86% of 538)
Governor:	1
Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2002-2010 Representatives:	8	(1.84% of 435)
2000 Census:	4,925,670	(1.75% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):	3,547,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):	3,265,324
Capital:	St. Paul
Tuesday 9 September 2008 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Marianas Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Minnesota State and Local Government

Minnesota 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

13 January 2009: Minnesota Secretary of State - November 4, 2008 General Election Results

6 January 2008: Recount Canvassing Report - 2008 Minnesota State General Election - Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - Recount of the Votes Cast for United States Senator

26 September 2008: Synchronized with Minnesota Secretary of State - 2008 Certification of Candidates for State General Election.

Tuesday 9 September 2008 Primaries

MINNESOTA PRIMARY Returns from an official source



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 10 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,573,354	54.06%	Senator Barack Hussein Obama (10 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338: $778,642,047

		Republican	1,275,409	43.82%	Senator John Sidney McCain, III • Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin • FEC P80002801: $399,826,076

		Independent	30,152	1.04%	Ralph Nader • Vice President: Matt Gonzalez • FEC P20000527: $4,520,160

		Write-in	9,496	0.33%	Write-in

		Libertarian	9,174	0.32%	former Congressman Bob Barr • Vice President: Wayne Allyn Root • FEC P80005580: $1,405,899

		Constitution	6,787	0.23%	Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin • Vice President: Darrell L. Castle • FEC P80005499: $262,010

		Green	5,174	0.18%	former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney • Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente • FEC P80004930: $240,360

		Socialist Workers Party	790	0.03%	Róger Calero • Vice President: Alyson Kennedy • FEC P80005481: Financial report not available

		Write-in; (America's Independent)	22	0.00%	former Ambassador Alan L. Keyes • Vice President: Brian Rohrbough • FEC P60003076: $481,991
		Write-in; (Socialist Party USA)	7	0.00%	Brian Patrick Moore • Vice President: Stewart A. Alexander • FEC P80005275: $9,516
		Write-in	3	0.00%	Joseph Charles "Average Joe" Schriner • Vice President: Dale Way • FEC P00003962: $17,270
		Write-in	1	0.00%	Curtis Montgomery • Vice President: Janice Montgomery
		Write-in; (HeartQuake '08)	0	0.00%	Jonathan Edward Allen • Vice President: Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Stath • FEC P80005119: $95,029
		Write-in	0	0.00%	James Germalio • Vice President: Martin Wishnatsky
		Write-in; (Green)	0	0.00%	Keith Russell Judd • Vice President: Monty W. Judd • FEC P60003530: $532,837
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Jeffrey S. Lehmann • Vice President: Eric Wasness
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Glen John Mansfield • Vice President: Vanessa Surratt
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Mel Moench • Vice President: Michael Reynolds
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Frank Moore • Vice President: Susan Block
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Debra Joyce Renderos • Vice President: Oscar R. Renderos
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Oscar R. Renderos • Vice President: Debra Joyce Renderos
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Platt Robertson • Vice President: Scott Falls
		Write-in	0	0.00%	David Jon Sponheim • Vice President: Marshal Tanchuck
Total			2,910,369	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 110^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1		Democratic	Senator Amy Klobuchar • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 2		Republican	Senator Norm Coleman • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Toss-up - Republican Senator Norm Coleman vs. Democratic-Farmer Labor Al Franken

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,212,629	41.99%	Al Franken • Announced his intention to run 29 January 2007. 30 June 2009: Minnesota Supreme Court declares Democrat Al Franken the winner of the November 2008 US Senate contest. Norm Coleman to concede in Minnesota Senate dispute. Media reports indicate that now-former US Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) will concede, thus paving the way for Al Franken- the Democratic victor of the 2008 Election to the Class 2 seat from that State to be seated in the United States Senate. "Ours is a government of laws, not men and women. The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken and I respect its decision and will abide by the result. It's time for Minnesota to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward. I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator � Al Franken." --Senator Norm Coleman (Senator Coleman's statement) • FEC S8MN00438: $22,502,124

		Republican	1,212,317	41.98%	Senator Norm Coleman • FEC S2MN00126: $19,298,843

		Independence	437,505	15.15%	former U.S. Senator Dean Malcolm Barkley • FEC S4MN00262: $163,358

		Libertarian	13,923	0.48%	Charles Aldrich • FEC S8MN00545: Financial report not available

		Constitution	8,907	0.31%	James Niemackl • FEC S8MN00511: Financial report not available

		Write-in	2,340	0.08%	Write-in

		Scattering	42	0.00%	Other • 7 April 2009: The Office of the Secretary of State counted 351 absentee ballots that had been previously uncounted in the U.S. Senate election contest between Al Franken and Norm Coleman. A 3 judge panel, including Judge Elizabeth A. Hayden, Judge Kurt J. Marben and Judge Denise D. Reilly, ordered the counting of the ballots after hearing seven weeks of testimony and considering thousands of exhibits. Of the 351 ballots opened, Coleman received 111 votes, Franken 198. An additional 42 ballots were cast for other candidates and voters who opted to not vote in the Senate race. There were no votes challenged by either campaign. Reference: Certified Summary Statement

		Write-in	13	0.00%	Michael Cavlan
		Write-in	12	0.00%	Anthony Keith Price
		Write-in	0	0.00%	John H. Evan
		Write-in; (Republican)	0	0.00%	Jack Shepard • FEC S2MN00159: $22,501
Total			2,887,688	100.00%
	Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - 2008 Recount Guide Monday 13 April 2009 update: The District Court has issued a judgement: "Based on the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and pursuant to Minnesota Stat. 209.12, the Court decides, declares, and adjudges that ... Al Franken ... received the highest number of votes ... and is entitled to receive the certificate of election". Signed by Judge Elizabeth A. Hayden, Judge Kurt J. Marben, and Judge Denise D. Reilly. Norm Coleman has 10 days to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Reference: Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment [No. 62-CV-09-56]

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Tim Pawlenty • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

		Democratic-Farmer Labor			Tom Bakk
		Democratic-Farmer Labor			Susan Gaertner
		Democratic-Farmer Labor			State Representative Paul Thissen

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Elected on a ticket with the Governor.

		Republican	Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

110^th U.S. House of Representatives 2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 5 Democratic (5 Renominated); 3 Republican (2 Renominated, 1 Open)

CD 1 {map}		Democratic	Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	207,753	62.50%	Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • FEC H6MN01174: $2,732,738

		Republican	109,453	32.93%	Brian James Davis • FEC H8MN01238: $1,097,200

		Independence	14,904	4.48%	Gregory D. "Greg" Mikkelson • FEC H2MN01124: Financial report not available

		Write-in	290	0.09%	Write-In
Total			332,400	100.00%

CD 2 {map}		Republican	Congressman John P. Kline • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Republican Congressman John P. Kline

		Republican	220,924	57.29%	Congressman John P. Kline • FEC H8MN06047: $1,464,906

		Democratic-Farmer Labor; (Independence)	164,093	42.55%	Stephen Todd "Steve" Sarvi • FEC H8MN02046: $559,473

		Write-in	597	0.15%	Write-In
		Write-in	41	0.01%	Kevin Masrud
		Write-in	1	0.00%	Curt Walor
Total			385,656	100.00%

CD 3 {map} Open		Republican	Congressman Jim Ramstad • First elected: 1990 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Open Seat - 17 September 2007: Announced that he will not seek re-election.
		Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic-Farmer Labor Jigar Ashwin "Ashwin" Madia favored over Republican state Representative Erik Paulsen
			Open Seat (no incumbent)

		Republican	178,932	48.48%	state Representative Erik Paulsen • FEC H8MN03077: $2,781,437

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	150,787	40.85%	Jigar Ashwin "Ashwin" Madia • FEC H8MN03085: $2,734,890

		Independence	38,970	10.56%	David G. Dillon • FEC H8MN03101: $161,185

		Write-in	406	0.11%	Write-in
		Write-in	9	0.00%	Harley Swarm, Jr.
Total			369,104	100.00%

CD 4 {map}		Democratic	Congressman Betty McCollum • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Democratic Congressman Betty McCollum

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	216,267	68.44%	Congressman Betty McCollum • FEC H0MN04049: $722,054

		Republican	98,936	31.31%	Edward T. "Ed" Matthews • FEC H8MN04075: $86,561

		Write-in	814	0.26%	Write-in
		Write-in	1	0.00%	Amber Garlan
Total			316,018	100.00%

CD 5 {map}		Democratic	Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Democratic Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	228,776	70.88%	Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison • FEC H6MN05183: $1,530,396

		Republican	71,020	22.00%	Barbara Davis "Barb" White • FEC H8MN05130: $62,099

		Independence	22,318	6.92%	Bill McGaughey • FEC H8MN05148: Financial report not available

		Write-in	633	0.20%	Write-in
Total			322,747	100.00%

CD 6 {map}		Republican	Congressman Michele M. Bachmann • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic-Farmer Labor Elwyn Glenn "El" Tinklenberg favored over Republican Congressman Michele M. Bachmann

		Republican	187,817	46.41%	Congressman Michele M. Bachmann • FEC H6MN06074: $3,494,045

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	175,786	43.43%	Elwyn Glenn "El" Tinklenberg • FEC H6MN06124: $2,968,319

		Independence	40,643	10.04%	Bob Anderson • FEC H8MN06088: Financial report not available

		Write-in	459	0.11%	Write-in
		Write-in; (Republican)	20	0.00%	Abraham P. "Aubrey" Immelman • Lost the 9 September Republican Primary. May run as a write-in in the General Election. • FEC H8MN06070: $3,317
Total			404,725	100.00%

CD 7 {map}		Democratic	Congressman Collin C. Peterson • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Democratic Congressman Collin C. Peterson

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	227,187	72.20%	Congressman Collin C. Peterson • FEC H2MN07014: $1,218,264

		Republican	87,062	27.67%	Glen R. Menze • FEC H0MN07034: $12,875

		Write-in	431	0.14%	Write-in
		Write-in	0	0.00%	Leon Carlton Williams
Total			314,680	100.00%

CD 8 {map}		Democratic	Congressman James L. "Jim" Oberstar • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
		Polls: Democratic Congressman James L. "Jim" Oberstar

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	241,831	67.69%	Congressman James L. "Jim" Oberstar • FEC H6MN08047: $1,995,753

		Republican	114,871	32.15%	Michael Cummins • FEC H8MN08035: $23,431

		Write-in	582	0.16%	Write-in
Total			357,284	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Secretary of State Mark Ritchie • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Attorney General Lori Swanson • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Auditor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Auditor Rebecca Otto • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 6 incumbents
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor (affiliate of Democratic): 3 incumbents, 13 candidates
	• Republican: 6 incumbents, 12 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Green (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• Libertarian: 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• America's Independent (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Constitution (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• HeartQuake '08: 1 candidate
	• Independence (affiliates): 6 candidates
	• Socialist Party USA: 1 candidate
	• Socialist Workers Party: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 1 candidate
	• Write-in: 35 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.

FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.