U.S. House, Minnesota - 1st District
South -- Rochester, Mankato
Race Forecast: Democrat Favored
2008: Rep.
2006: Walz (D) 53 percent, Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) 47 percent
The Republican Party’s endorsed candidate, oncologist and neophyte politician Brian Davis, survived a Sept. 9 primary against state Sen. Dick Day. Davis now is looking to unseat Walz after his 2006 upset of six-term Republican Rep. Gutknecht, but the incumbent has a serious financial lead.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Tim Walz, D
- First Elected: 2006 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (52.74%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Democrat Favored
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
One of the state’s three rural districts, the 1st runs across the state’s entire southern tier from South Dakota to the Mississippi River, cut horizontally by Interstate 90 and vertically by Interstate 35. While rural areas continue to lose population, cities such as Mankato and Rochester, home to an IBM facility and the Mayo Clinic, thrive. Agriculture and food processing still drive the local economy.
Corn, soybeans, sugar beets, hogs and dairy are staples here. Food processing, from fresh turkey to canned soups, is prevalent throughout the district’s land west of Rochester. Winona and Mankato host state universities, and west of Mankato, no town has more than 15,000 residents.
Although the 1st is still more than 90 percent white, Hispanic, Asian and black immigrants have come to the district to work in processing plants and in agriculture. Worthington in particular has a significant immigrant population.
Rochester, the district’s largest city, has a historically moderate GOP base. In 2006, however, Rochester aligned itself with the 1st’s many smaller towns and farmers that support the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
Major Industry
Agriculture, food processing, health care
Cities
Rochester, 85,806; Mankato, 32,427; Winona, 27,069; Austin, 23,314; Owatonna, 22,434
Notable
Austin, the birthplace of SPAM, is home to the SPAM Museum and an annual festival.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 614,935
- Under 18: 25.5%
- Over 65: 15.1%
- Married: 59%
- Non-Hispanic White: 93%
- Black: 1%
- Hispanic: 3%
- Asian: 2%
- Foreign Born: 4%
- Language other than English: 6.9%
- Median Household Income: 40,941
- Owner Occupied Housing: 76.8%
- Income above $200k: 1.4
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 56.7%
- Blue Collar: 28.3%
- Services: 15.0%
- Bachelor's Degree: 22%
- Graduate Education: 6.7%
- Civilian Veterans: 59,436
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Tim Walz (D) | 207,749 | 62.5% |
| Brian Davis (R) | 109,451 | 32.9% | ||
| Gregory Mikkelson (INDC) | 14,904 | 4.5% | ||
| 2006 | general | Tim Walz (D) | 141,556 | 52.7% |
| Gil Gutknecht (R) | 126,486 | 47.1% | ||
| 2004 | general | Gil Gutknecht (R) | 193,132 | 59.6% |
| Leigh Pomeroy (D) | 115,088 | 35.5% | ||
| Gregory Mikkelson (INDC) | 15,569 | 4.8% | ||
| 2002 | general | Gil Gutknecht (R) | 163,570 | 61.5% |
| Steve Andreasen (D) | 92,165 | 34.6% | ||
| Gregory Mikkelson (GREEN) | 9,964 | 3.8% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 47% | George W. Bush: 51% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 46% | George W. Bush: 50% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GUTKNECHT, GILBERT W JR. (R) | October 17, 2008 | $13,201.00 | $14,385.00 | ||||
| MEYER, MARK D (R) | April 13, 2008 | $27,390.00 | $27,388.00 | $5,000.00 | $18,090.00 | ||
| WALZ, TIMOTHY J. (D) | November 24, 2008 | $2,725,443.00 | $2,670,653.00 | $133,498.00 | $1,597,482.00 | $59,965.00 | |
| MIKKELSON, GREGORY (R) | October 15, 2006 | ||||||
| DEMMER, RANDY LEE (R) | September 30, 2008 | $239,971.00 | $239,860.00 | $84,464.00 | $108.00 | $135,150.00 | |
| DAVIS, BRIAN JAMES (R) | November 24, 2008 | $1,095,408.00 | $1,089,537.00 | $14,000.00 | $695,117.00 | $5,871.00 | $7,379.00 |
| DAY, DICK (R) | September 30, 2008 | $255,772.00 | $240,346.00 | $219,981.00 | $15,422.00 | $23,000.00 | |
