Minnesota's 8th Congressional District

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District

Incumbent

Pete Stauber

Assumed office: January 3, 2019

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Pete Stauber (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Minnesota representatives represented an average of 713,719 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 664,360 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Jennifer Schultz in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber (R)	58.0	244,498
		Jennifer Schultz (D)	41.9	176,724
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	384

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 421,606
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Jennifer Schultz defeated John Munter in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Schultz	91.0	32,149
		John Munter	9.0	3,194

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,343
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber	90.5	36,928
		Harry Welty	9.5	3,874

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,802
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Jennifer Schultz in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber (R)	57.2	188,755
		Jennifer Schultz (D)	42.7	141,009
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	316

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 330,080
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Jennifer Schultz defeated John Munter in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Schultz	86.1	38,545
		John Munter	13.9	6,199

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 44,744
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Theresa Lastovich (D)
• Ernest Oppegaard-Peltier (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber	91.0	51,410
		Harry Welty	9.0	5,075

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,485
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Quinn Nystrom, Judith Schwartzbacker, John Evans, and David Pipho in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber (R)	56.8	223,432
		Quinn Nystrom (D)	37.6	147,853
	Submit photo	Judith Schwartzbacker (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)	5.6	22,190
	Submit photo	John Evans (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	Submit photo	David Pipho (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	236

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 393,711
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Quinn Nystrom advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Quinn Nystrom	100.0	46,050

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,050 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Gaylene Spolarich (D)
• Marjorie Holmstrom-Sabo (D)
• Soren Christian Sorensen (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Incumbent Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber	93.7	39,058
		Harry Welty	6.3	2,606

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,664 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Judith Schwartzbacker advanced from the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Judith Schwartzbacker	100.0	540

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 540 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Pete Stauber defeated Joe Radinovich and Ray Sandman in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber (R)	50.7	159,364
		Joe Radinovich (D)	45.2	141,950
		Ray Sandman (Independence Party)	4.1	12,741
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	156

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 314,211 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Joe Radinovich defeated Michelle Lee, Jason Metsa, Kirsten Hagen Kennedy, and Soren Christian Sorensen in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Radinovich	44.1	30,732
		Michelle Lee	27.5	19,182
		Jason Metsa	13.2	9,229
		Kirsten Hagen Kennedy	11.7	8,133
		Soren Christian Sorensen	3.5	2,415

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 69,691
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Leah Phifer (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8

Pete Stauber defeated Harry Welty in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 8 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Stauber	90.0	45,391
		Harry Welty	10.0	5,047

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 50,438
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as a race to watch. Incumbent Rick Nolan (D) defeated Stewart Mills (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. This was a rematch of the 2014 race, in which Nolan successfully defended his seat from Mills by 1.4 percent of the vote. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in August.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Rick Nolan Incumbent	50.2%	179,098
	Republican	Stewart Mills	49.6%	177,089
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	792
Total Votes				356,979
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

2014

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 8th Congressional District of Minnesota held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Challengers Stewart Mills (R) and Ray "Skip" Sandman (G) were defeated by incumbent Rick Nolan (D) in the general election. None of the candidates faced challengers in the primary election on August 12, 2014.

Minnesota's 8th was considered a battleground district in 2014. Nolan won his seat in 2012 with an 8.9 percent margin of victory, and President Barack Obama (D) won the district in 2012 by only 5.5 percent. Nolan was first elected in 2012, and representatives serving their first term are often more vulnerable than long-time incumbents. In addition, Minnesota's 8th district was redrawn in 2011, which could have significantly altered the ratio of Democratic and Republican voters. In 2013, Politico reported that Nolan was vulnerable in this competitive race.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Rick Nolan Incumbent	48.5%	129,090
	Republican	Stewart Mills	47.1%	125,358
	Green	Skip Sandman	4.3%	11,450
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	185
Total Votes				266,083
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

General election candidates

• Rick Nolan - Incumbent a
• Stewart Mills
• Ray "Skip" Sandman

August 12, 2014, primary results

Democratic Primary

• Rick Nolan - Incumbenta

Green Primary

• Ray "Skip" Sandmana

Republican Primary

• Stewart Millsa

Failed to file

• Eric Meyer (Independence)

2012

See also: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District elections, 2012

Incumbent Chip Cravaack was defeated by Democratic challenger Rick Nolan in the general election on November 6, 2012.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Rick Nolan	54.3%	191,976
	Republican	Chip Cravaack Incumbent	45.4%	160,520
	NA	Write-in	0.3%	1,167
Total Votes				353,663
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" (dead link)

2010
On November 2, 2010, Chip Cravaack (R) won election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Oberstar (D), Timothy Olson (Independence) and Richard "George" Burton (Constitution) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Chip Cravaak	48.6%	133,490
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar	47%	129,091
	Independence	Timothy Olson	4.3%	11,876
	Constitution	Richard George	0%	132
Total Votes				274,589

2008
On November 4, 2008, Jim Oberstar (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael Cummins (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 6 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar	67.7%	241,831
	Republican	Michael Cummins	32.2%	114,871
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	582
Total Votes				357,284

2006
On November 7, 2006, Jim Oberstar (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rod Grams (R) and Harry Welty (Unity) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 6 General Elections, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar incumbent	63.6%	180,670
	Republican	Rod Grams	34.4%	97,683
	Unity	Harry Welty	1.9%	5,508
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	155
Total Votes				284,016

2004
On November 2, 2004, Jim Oberstar (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Groettum (R) and Van Presley (Green) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar incumbent	65.2%	228,586
	Republican	Mark Groettum	32.2%	112,693
	Green	Van Presley	2.5%	8,933
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	271
Total Votes				350,483

2002
On November 5, 2002, Jim Oberstar (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Bob Lemen (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar incumbent	68.6%	194,909
	Republican	Bob Lemen	31.2%	88,673
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	349
Total Votes				283,931

2000
On November 7, 2000, Jim Oberstar (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Bob Lemen (R) and Mike Darling (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 8 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar incumbent	67.8%	210,094
	Republican	Bob Lemen	25.8%	79,890
	Independent	Mike Darling	6.4%	19,667
Total Votes				309,651

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Minnesota after the 2020 census

Minnesota enacted new congressional district boundaries on February 15, 2022, when a special judicial redistricting panel issued an order adopting final maps. In its unanimous order, the panel wrote, "To afford counties and municipalities time to complete local redistricting, the statutory deadline for completing congressional and legislative redistricting is '25 weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two.' In this decennium, that date is February 15, 2022. That date has arrived, and the legislature has not yet enacted a congressional redistricting plan. To avoid delaying the electoral process, the panel must now act."

After the panel issued their order, Dave Orrick of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press wrote, "The impacts of the new maps weren’t immediately clear...Since Minnesota averted losing a congressional seat, the state’s eight districts for U.S. House members don’t appear jarringly different from current maps." Briana Bierschbach and Hunter Woodall wrote in the Star Tribune, “Under the new maps, the eighth Congressional district grew larger geographically to accommodate population declines in many rural counties.”Kyle Brown of Saint Paul television station KSTP wrote, “The state’s current balance of four Republican and four Democratic representatives in the U.S. House could be thrown for a loop with a radical shift in geography for the 2nd Congressional District, which by far had the most competitive race in 2020.”

How does redistricting in Minnesota work? In Minnesota, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Minnesota State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.

The Minnesota Constitution requires "that state Senate districts be contiguous, and that Representative districts be nested within Senate districts." State statutes apply contiguity requirements to all congressional and state legislative districts. Furthermore, state statutes stipulate that political subdivisions should not be divided "more than necessary."

Minnesota District 8
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Minnesota District 8
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 8th Congressional District of Minnesota after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Minnesota after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Minnesota State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 8th the 165th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 54.7%-43.4%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 8th the 163rd most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 43.4% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 54.7%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 8th Congressional District the 199th most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.10. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.10 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Minnesota
• Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
• Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
• Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
• Minnesota's 8th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 8

Footnotes

[show]

Minnesota's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Amy Klobuchar (D)

Tina Smith (D)

Representatives

District 1

Brad Finstad (R)

District 2

Angie Craig (D)

District 3

Kelly Morrison (D)

District 4

Betty McCollum (D)

District 5

Ilhan Omar (D)

District 6

Tom Emmer (R)

District 7

Michelle Fischbach (R)

District 8

Pete Stauber (R)

Democratic Party (6)

Republican Party (4)