2008 Election Cycle

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden led the DFL to its ninth consecutive win in Minnesota.

The real drama took place down the ballot in which a recount and election contest in the U.S. Senate race led to more than a six-month vacancy in the state’s Class II seat. DFL comedian Al Franken was eventually declared the winner over one-term incumbent Norm Coleman by just 312 votes.

No U.S. House seats changed partisan control this cycle with the DFL retaining a five to three seat advantage.

The DFL netted two seats and started the new legislature with an overwhelming majority of 87-47.

Associate Justice Paul Anderson and appointed Associate Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea each won election to a full term.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/04/2008 U.S. House, District 04 General Betty McCollum (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 216,267 votes (68.44%) and a winning margin of +37.13
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Betty McCollum Incumbent Woman Democratic-Farmer-Labor 216,267 68.44
Ed Matthews Man Republican 98,936 31.31
Amber Garlan Woman Write-In 1 0.00
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11/04/2008 U.S. House, District 03 General Erik Paulsen (Republican) won with 178,932 votes (48.48%) and a winning margin of +7.63
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Erik Paulsen Man Republican 178,932 48.48
Ashwin Madia Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 150,787 40.85
David Dillon Man Independence 38,970 10.56
Harley Swarm Man Write-In 9 0.00
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11/04/2008 U.S. House, District 01 General Tim Walz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 207,753 votes (62.50%) and a winning margin of +29.57
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Tim Walz Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 207,753 62.50
Brian J. Davis Man Republican 109,453 32.93
Gregory (Greg) Mikkelson Man Independence 14,904 4.48
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11/04/2008 President / Vice President General Barack Obama (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 1,573,354 votes (54.06%) and a winning margin of +10.24
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Barack Obama with Joseph Biden Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 1,573,354 54.06
John McCain with Sarah Palin Man Republican 1,275,409 43.82
Ralph Nader with Matt Gonzalez Man Independent 30,152 1.04
Bob Barr with Wayne A. Root Man Libertarian 9,174 0.32
Charles (Chuck) Baldwin with Darrell L. Castle Man Constitution 6,787 0.23
Cynthia McKinney with Rosa A. Clemente Woman Green 5,174 0.18
Róger Calero with Alyson Kennedy Man Socialist Workers 790 0.03
Alan Keyes with Brian Rorbaugh Man Write-In 22 0.00
Brian Moore with Stewart A. Alexander Man Write-In 7 0.00
Joe Schriner with Dale Way Man Write-In 3 0.00
Curtis Montgomery with Janice Montgomery Man Write-In 1 0.00

Obama and Biden each received Minnesota's 10 Electoral College votes. This cycle marked a party record ninth consecutive win in Minnesota for a Democratic presidential ticket.

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11/04/2008 U.S. House, District 05 General Keith M. Ellison (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 228,776 votes (70.88%) and a winning margin of +48.88
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Keith M. Ellison Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 228,776 70.88
Barb Davis White Woman Republican 71,020 22.00
William (Bill) McGaughey Man Independence 22,318 6.92
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