Bachmann, Paulsen raised over $1 million in 2009

More than $2 million was raised by candidates in the 6th Congressional District in 2009. That makes it easily the most expensive U.S. House contest in Minnesota so far this election cycle.

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, pulled in more than $1.5 million in 2009 and closed the year with just over $1 million cash on hand, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). In addition, her two DFL challengers raised roughly $1.2 million combined. State Sen. Tarryl Clark took in just over $600,000, while physician Maureen Reed trailed closely behind with roughly $575,000.

The large fundraising hauls are indicative of two factors: The 6th District is one of the few Minnesota legislative races that is potentially competitive in 2010, and Bachmann’s national prominence makes the contest a magnet for donors from both political parties.

“Bachmann’s profile allows her challengers to raise money outside the district, even outside the state,” says Nathan Gonzales, political editor at the Rothenberg Political Report. “Liberals all over the country know who Michele Bachmann is.”

The 3rd Congressional District attracted the next largest pile of political cash, but so far it’s primarily showing up in the coffers of incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen. The freshman Republican raised $1.2 million and had more than $1 million in the bank at the close of the year.

Paulsen has attracted a pair of DFL challengers in psychiatrist Maureen Hackett and former Minnesota PTA president Jim Meffert. The former brought in just over $63,000, but nearly half of that money came from her personal funds. Meffert raised roughly $48,000. Neither candidate, however, officially entered the race until late in 2009.

The 3rd District is essentially a toss-up politically, but Paulsen won the open seat there by a surprisingly wide margin in 2008. Given the current political climate, with Republicans expected to make significant gains in House races nationwide, it might be difficult for Paulsen’s challengers to attract significant funds.

“Democrats later this summer are going to have to make some tough decisions,” says Gonzales. “They’re going to be very cold and calculated when it comes to spending their money.”

Currently those are the only two House races in Minnesota that most political pundits deem competitive. But Republicans are eagerly eyeing a couple of seats that could be potential takeover targets if the political scales continue to tilt in their favor.

Two-term Rep. Tim Walz won re-election by a landslide in 2008. But Republicans believe the DFLer could be vulnerable in a district that leans slightly in the GOP’s favor. Walz raised slightly more than $700,000 in 2009 and had $421,000 in the bank at the end of the year.

A pair of GOP challengers reported meager fundraising totals for their fledgling campaigns. Former state Rep. Allen Quist took in almost $33,000, while state Rep. Randy Demmer raised just under $20,000.

Republicans have also made noise about mounting a credible run at 10-term Rep. Collin Peterson. He’s won re-election with at least 65 percent of the vote in the last four election cycles. But the 7th Congressional District skews Republican and opted for John McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.

Peterson raised more than $500,000 in 2009 and finished the year with roughly $620,000 in the bank. His two announced challengers, businessman Lee Byberg and frequent candidate Glen Menze, didn’t file fundraising totals with the FEC.

“The filing deadline in Minnesota is not until July,” notes David Wasserman, House editor at the Cook Political report. “There’s still plenty of time for Republicans to put something together, and they haven’t taken a run at Peterson in ages.”

The only other incumbent to attract challengers so far is Rep. John Kline. The four-term Republican has easily retained his post in the last three election cycles. Kline took in roughly $673,000 in 2009 and had more than $350,000 cash on hand at the end of December. His two challengers, former state Rep. Shelley Madore and businessman Dan Powers, had raised negligible amounts of money by the close of the year.

The remaining members of Minnesota’s House delegation represent extremely strong DFL districts and aren’t expected to face serious opposition. Rep. Betty McCollum raised roughly $375,000 to defend her 4th Congressional District seat. Rep. Keith Ellison pulled in just over $500,000 in the 5th Congressional District. And Rep. Jim Oberstar finished the year with more than $1 million in the bank in the Eighth Congressional District.