# Minnesota's 5th congressional district

Minnesota's 5th congressional district is a geographically small urban and suburban congressional district in Minnesota. It covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. Besides Minneapolis, major cities in the district include Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, New Hope, Fridley, and a small portion of Edina.
It was created in 1883, and was nicknamed the "Bloody Fifth" on account of its first election. The contest between Knute Nelson and Charles F. Kindred involved graft, intimidation, and election fraud at every turn. The Republican convention on July 12 in Detroit Lakes was compared to the historic Battle of the Boyne in Ireland. One hundred and fifty delegates fought over eighty seats. After a scuffle in the main conference center, the Kindred and Nelson campaigns nominated each of their candidates.
The district is strongly Democratic, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index (CPVI) of D+30 — by far the most Democratic district in the state. The 5th is also the most Democratic district in the Upper Midwest. The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) has held the seat without interruption since 1963, and the Republicans have not tallied more than 40 percent of the vote in almost half a century. The 5th district is one of the most diverse in Minnesota; 16% of the district's residents are immigrants, the highest of any district in Minnesota, with the largest countries of origin being Somalia, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Laos, Ecuador, and Liberia. The district also has the largest population of Somali Americans in the country, with Somalis making up 3% of the district's population.
The district is represented by Ilhan Omar, who is the first Somali–American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first woman of color to represent Minnesota in that chamber. Omar, also an American Muslim, succeeded Keith Ellison, the first American Muslim to serve in Congress, after he was elected Minnesota Attorney General.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 74% - 24% |
| 2008 | Senate | Franken 61% - 25% |
| 2010 | Governor | Dayton 64% - 24% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Ritchie 70% - 26% |
| 2010 | Auditor | Otto 68% - 27% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Swanson 72% - 23% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 74% - 24% |
| 2012 | Senate | Klobuchar 79% - 17% |
| 2014 | Senate | Franken 74% - 22% |
| 2014 | Governor | Dayton 71% - 23% |
| 2014 | Secretary of State | Simon 70% - 23% |
| 2014 | Auditor | Otto 70% - 20% |
| 2014 | Attorney General | Swanson 69% - 19% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 73% - 18% |
| 2018 | Senate (Reg.) | Klobuchar 81% - 15% |
| 2018 | Senate (Spec.) | Smith 77% - 18% |
| 2018 | Governor | Walz 78% - 18% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Simon 78% - 18% |
| 2018 | Auditor | Blaha 73% - 19% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Ellison 74% - 20% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 80% - 17% |
| 2020 | Senate | Smith 74% - 18% |
| 2022 | Governor | Walz 81% - 16% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Simon 83% - 17% |
| 2022 | Auditor | Blaha 76% - 18% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Ellison 80% - 20% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 79% - 18% |
| 2024 | Senate | Klobuchar 82% - 15% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:
Anoka County (4)
    Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, Spring Lake Park (part; also 4th; shared with Ramsey County)
Hennepin County (10)
    Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Edina (part; also 3rd), Golden Valley, Minneapolis, New Hope, Richfield, Robbinsdale, St. Anthony (shared with Ramsey County), St. Louis Park
Ramsey County (1)
    St. Anthony (shared with Hennepin County)

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District created March 4, 1883 ||||||
| Knute Nelson (Alexandria) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1889 | 48th 49th 50th | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Solomon Comstock (Moorhead) | Republican | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Elected in 1888. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Kittel Halvorson (North Fork) | Populist | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Loren Fletcher (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost re-election. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| John Lind (Minneapolis) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Elected in 1902. Retired. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| Loren Fletcher (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 | 59th | Elected in 1904. Retired. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| Frank Nye (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913 | 60th 61st 62nd | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Retired. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| George Ross Smith (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1917 | 63rd 64th | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Lost re-election. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Ernest Lundeen (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919 | 65th | Elected in 1916. Lost renomination. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Walter Newton (Minneapolis) | Republican | March 4, 1919 – June 30, 1929 | 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Resigned when appointed Secretary to President Herbert Hoover. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 30, 1929 – July 17, 1929 | 71st | | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| William I. Nolan (Minneapolis) | Republican | July 17, 1929 – March 3, 1933 | 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Newton's term. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the at-large district and lost re-election. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket. | All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket. |
| Theodore Christianson (Minneapolis) | Republican | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1935–1943 [data missing] |
| Dewey Johnson (Minneapolis) | Farmer–Labor | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 | 75th | Elected in 1936. Lost re-election. | 1935–1943 [data missing] |
| Oscar Youngdahl (Minneapolis) | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1943 | 76th 77th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Lost renomination. | 1935–1943 [data missing] |
| Walter Judd (Minneapolis) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1963 | 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost re-election. | 1943–1953 [data missing] |
| Walter Judd (Minneapolis) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1963 | 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost re-election. | 1953–1963 [data missing] |
| Donald M. Fraser (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1979 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1963–1973 [data missing] |
| Donald M. Fraser (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1979 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Martin Olav Sabo (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2007 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Martin Olav Sabo (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2007 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| Martin Olav Sabo (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2007 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Martin Olav Sabo (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2007 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired. | 2003–2013 |
| Keith Ellison (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019 | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired to run for Attorney General of Minnesota. | 2003–2013 |
| Keith Ellison (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019 | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired to run for Attorney General of Minnesota. | 2013–2023 |
| Ilhan Omar (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Ilhan Omar (Minneapolis) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results
### 2002

2002 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic (DFL) | Martin Sabo (Incumbent) | 171,572 | 67 |
| Republican | Daniel Mathias | 66,271 | 25.9 |
| Green | Tim Davis | 17,825 | 7 |

### 2004

2004 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Martin Sabo (Incumbent) | 218,434 | 69.7 | +2.7% |
| Republican | Daniel Mathias | 76,600 | 24.4 | −1.5% |
| Green | Jay Pond | 17,984 | 5.7 | −1.3% |

### 2006

Congressman Martin Sabo, DFL, retired after 26 years in the House. Keith Ellison, also a DFLer, replaced him. Although Ellison was endorsed by the DFL convention, four non-endorsed candidates ran strong campaigns against him in the DFL primary: Gail Dorfman, Mike Erlandson, Ember Reichgott Junge, and Jack Nelson Pallmeyer. Ellison won the primary with 41% of the vote. In the general election, he won with 56% of the vote against Jay Pond of the Green Party, Tammy Lee of the Independence Party, and Alan Fine of the Republican Party. Ellison was the first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress.
2006 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison | 136,060 | 55.6% | −14.1% |
| Republican | Alan Fine | 52,263 | 21.3% | −3.1% |
| Independence | Tammy Lee | 51,456 | 21.0% | − |
| Green | Jay Pond | 4,792 | 2% | −3.7% |

### 2008

2008 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (Incumbent) | 228,776 | 70.9 | +15.3% |
| Republican | Barb Davis White | 71,020 | 22 | +0.7% |
| Independence | Bill McGaughey | 22,318 | 6.9 | −14.9% |

### 2010

2010 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (Incumbent) | 154,833 | 67.7 | −3.2 |
| Republican | Joel Demos | 55,222 | 24.1 | +2.1% |
| Independent | Lynne Torgerson | 8,548 | 3.7 | − |
| Independence | Tom Schrunk | 7,446 | 3.3 | −3.6% |
| Independent Progressive | Michael James Cavlan | 2,468 | 1.1 | − |

### 2012

2012 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (Incumbent) | 262,102 | 74.5 | +6.8% |
| | Republican | Chris Fields | 88,753 | 25.2 | +1.1% |

### 2014

2014 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (Incumbent) | 167,079 | 70.8 | −3.7% |
| Republican | Doug Daggett | 56,577 | 24.0 | −1.2% |
| Independence | Lee Bauer | 12,001 | 5.1 | — |

### 2016

2016 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Keith Ellison (Incumbent) | 249,964 | 69.1 | −1.6% |
| Republican | Frank Drake | 80,660 | 22.3 | −1.7% |
| Legal Marijuana Now | Dennis Schuller | 30,759 | 8.5 | — |

### 2018

2018 Minnesota 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Ilhan Omar | 267,703 | 78.0 | +8.8% |
| | Republican | Jennifer Zielinski | 74,440 | 21.7 | −0.6% |

### 2020

2020 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Ilhan Omar (Incumbent) | 255,924 | 64.3 |
| | Republican | Lacy Johnson | 102,878 | 25.8 |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Michael Moore | 37,979 | 9.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,448 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 398,229 | |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

### 2022

2022 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic (DFL) | Ilhan Omar (Incumbent) | 214,224 | 74.33 |
| Republican | Cicely Davis | 70,702 | 24.53 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 3,280 | 1.14 |
| Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |