# Minnesota's 2nd congressional district

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district covers the south Twin Cities metro area and contains all of Scott, Dakota, and Le Sueur counties. It also contains part of northern and eastern Rice County including the city of Northfield, as well as southern Washington County including the city of Cottage Grove. Lakeville and Eagan are the largest cities in the district. Historically, for many decades in the mid 20th century the 2nd congressional district covered the southwest corner of the state, while the 1st congressional district covered most of this part of the state.
Three of Minnesota's most important rivers run through the district, the Mississippi River, the Minnesota River, and the St. Croix River. Interstate highways I-35 E and I-35 W merge in the district in addition to the north–south thoroughfares of U.S. Routes 169, 61, and 52 and the east–west Route 212. The suburban areas in the northern part of the district blend into the rural farmland in the south. The district's economy includes agriculture, small businesses, and large corporations.
Some of the largest employers in the district are Thomson Reuters, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, 3M, Cambria, and Red Wing Shoes. The district includes Pine Bend Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Minnesota, owned by Koch Industries.
The 2nd district is also home to two private liberal arts colleges: St. Olaf and Carleton, both in Northfield. Shakopee is home to Minnesota's largest amusement park, Valleyfair, as well as Canterbury Park.
One of Minnesota's oldest cities, Hastings is in the district. The district hosts heritage festivals and town celebrations, such as Kolacky days in Montgomery, the Pine Island Cheese festival, and Shakopee Derby Days.
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district is currently represented by Democrat Angie Craig, who defeated incumbent Republican Jason Lewis in the 2018 election. The district is considered to be highly competitive. Between 2000 and 2020, the district was a presidential bellwether, voting for the winner each time. This trend was broken in 2024, when the district favored Kamala Harris over winner Donald Trump.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 50% - 48% |
| 2008 | Senate | Coleman 46% - 37% |
| 2010 | Governor | Emmer 48% - 38% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Severson 50% - 45% |
| 2010 | Auditor | Anderson 51% - 45% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Swanson 49% - 46% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 49.0% - 48.8% |
| 2012 | Senate | Klobuchar 62% - 34% |
| 2014 | Senate | Franken 49% - 48% |
| 2014 | Governor | Johnson 49% - 46% |
| 2014 | Secretary of State | Severson 50% - 43% |
| 2014 | Auditor | Otto 49% - 43% |
| 2014 | Attorney General | Swanson 50% - 42% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 46% - 45% |
| 2018 | Senate (Reg.) | Klobuchar 59% - 38% |
| 2018 | Senate (Spec.) | Smith 51% - 45% |
| 2018 | Governor | Walz 52% - 44% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Simon 50% - 46% |
| 2018 | Auditor | Blaha 47% - 45% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Wardlow 48% - 46% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 52% - 45% |
| 2020 | Senate | Smith 48% - 44% |
| 2022 | Governor | Walz 53% - 45% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Simon 55% - 45% |
| 2022 | Auditor | Wilson 48% - 47% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Schultz 50.2% - 49.7% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 52% - 46% |
| 2024 | Senate | Klobuchar 57% - 40% |

## 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:
Dakota County (34)
    All 34 townships and municipalities
Le Sueur County (27)
    All 27 townships and municipalities
Rice County (12)
    Bridgewater Township, Dundas, Erin Township, Forest Township, Lonsdale, Morristown, Morristown Township, Northfield (shared with Dakota County), Northfield Township (part; also 1st), Shieldsville Township, Webster Township, Wheatland Township
Scott County (18)
    All 18 township and municipalities
Washington County (6)
    Cottage Grove, Denmark Township, Grey Cloud Island Township, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury (part; also 4th)

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District created March 4, 1861 ||||||
| Ignatius L. Donnelly (Hastings) | Republican | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 | 38th 39th 40th | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Lost re-election. | 1863–1873 [data missing] |
| Eugene McLanahan Wilson (Minneapolis) | Democratic | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected in 1868. Lost re-election. | 1863–1873 [data missing] |
| John T. Averill (St. Paul) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | 1863–1873 [data missing] |
| Horace B. Strait (Shakopee) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 | 43rd 44th 45th | Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost re-election. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Henry Poehler (Henderson) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Lost re-election. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Horace B. Strait (Shakopee) | Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| James Wakefield (Blue Earth City) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | 48th 49th | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Retired. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| John Lind (New Ulm) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1893 | 50th 51st 52nd | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Retired. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| James McCleary (Mankato) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1907 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Lost re-election. | 1893–1903 Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine |
| James McCleary (Mankato) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1907 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Lost re-election. | 1903–1915 [data missing] |
| Winfield Scott Hammond (St. James) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – January 6, 1915 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Resigned when elected Governor of Minnesota. | 1903–1915 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 6, 1915 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | | 1903–1915 [data missing] |
| Franklin Ellsworth (Mankato) | Republican | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921 | 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Retired to run for Governor of Minnesota. | 1915–1933 Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan |
| Frank Clague (Redwood Falls) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933 | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Retired. | 1915–1933 Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | All representatives elected at-large |
| Elmer Ryan (South St. Paul) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1941 | 74th 75th 76th | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Retired. | 1935–1963 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Dakota, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, and Watonwan |
| Joseph P. O'Hara (Glencoe) | Republican | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1959 | 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th | Elected in 1940. Re-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. Retired. | 1935–1963 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Dakota, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, and Watonwan |
| Ancher Nelsen (Hutchinson) | Republican | January 3, 1959 – December 31, 1974 | 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned early. | 1935–1963 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Dakota, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, and Watonwan |
| Ancher Nelsen (Hutchinson) | Republican | January 3, 1959 – December 31, 1974 | 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned early. | 1963–1973 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan |
| Ancher Nelsen (Hutchinson) | Republican | January 3, 1959 – December 31, 1974 | 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned early. | 1973–1983 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan; parts of Dakota and Hennepin |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 31, 1974 – January 3, 1975 | 93rd | | 1973–1983 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan; parts of Dakota and Hennepin |
| Tom Hagedorn (Truman) | Republican | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983 | 94th 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 1st district and lost re-election. | 1973–1983 Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan; parts of Dakota and Hennepin |
| Vin Weber (North Mankato) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Retired. | 1983–1993 Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Grant, Le Sueur, and Wright |
| David Minge (Montevideo) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Lost re-election. | 1993–1995 Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Hennepin and Scott |
| David Minge (Montevideo) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Lost re-election. | 1995–2003 Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Le Sueur, Nicollet, Scott, and Stearns |
| Mark Kennedy (Watertown) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | 107th | Elected in 2000. Redistricted to the 6th district. | 1995–2003 Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine; parts of Le Sueur, Nicollet, Scott, and Stearns |
| John Kline (Burnsville) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2017 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Retired. | 2003–2013 Carver, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, and Scott; parts of Dakota and Washington |
| John Kline (Burnsville) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2017 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Retired. | 2013–2023 Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, and Wabasha; parts of Rice and Washington |
| Jason Lewis (Cottage Grove) | Republican | January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | 115th | Elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, and Wabasha; parts of Rice and Washington |
| Angie Craig (Prior Lake) | 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 Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, and Wabasha; parts of Rice and Washington |
| Angie Craig (Prior Lake) | 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 Dakota, Le Sueur, and Scott; parts of Rice and Washington |

## Recent election results
### 2002

2002 Second Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 152,533 | 53 | [?] |
| Democratic (DFL) | Bill Luther | 121,072 | 42 | [?] |
| Independent | Sam Garst | 12,408 | 5 | [?] |

### 2004

2004 Second Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 206,313 | 57 | +4 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Teresa Daly | 147,527 | 40 | −2 |
| Independence | Doug Williams | 11,822 | 3 | −2 |

### 2006

2006 Second Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 163,292 | 56 | −1 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Coleen Rowley | 116,360 | 40 | +0 |
| Independence | Doug Williams | 10,802 | 4 | +1 |

### 2008

2008 Second Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 220,926 | 57.3 | +1.3 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Steve Sarvi | 164,079 | 42.5 | +2.5 |
| N/A | others | 614 | 0.2 | [?] |

### 2010

2010 Second Congressional District of Minnesota Election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 181.341 | 63.3 | +6 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Shelly Madore | 104,809 | 36.6 | −5.9 |
| N/A | others | 303 | .11 | [?] |

### 2012

2012 Second Congressional District of Minnesota Election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 193,586 | 54.1 | −9.2 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Obermueller | 164,335 | 45.9 | +9.3 |
| N/A | others | 521 | .15 | [?] |

### 2014

2014 Second Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | John Kline (incumbent) | 137,778 | 56.1 | +2.0 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Obermueller | 95,565 | 38.9 | −7.0 |
| Independence | Paula Overby | 12,319 | 5.0 | + |

### 2016

2016 Second Congressional District of Minnesota Election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Jason Lewis | 172,345 | 47.0 | −9.1 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Angie Craig | 164,621 | 45.2 | +6.3 |
| Independence | Paula Overby | 28,508 | 7.8 | +2.8 |

### 2018

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Angie Craig | 177,954 | 52.65 |
| | Republican | Jason Lewis (Incumbent) | 159,343 | 47.15 |
| | | Write-in | 668 | 0.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 337,965 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican |

### 2020

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Angie Craig (incumbent) | 204,534 | 48.2 |
| | Republican | Tyler Kistner | 194,954 | 45.9 |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Adam Charles Weeks † | 24,751 | 5.8 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 273 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 424,512 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

### 2022

2022 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Angie Craig (incumbent) | 165,583 | 50.9 |
| | Republican | Tyler Kistner | 148,576 | 45.6 |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Paula Overby † | 10,728 | 3.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 585 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 325,472 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |