The 2006 Minnesota's 6th congressional district election was an

election An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative d ...

for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

. State senator

Michele Bachmann Michele Marie Bachmann (; née Amble; born April 6, 1956) is an American politician who was the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for from 2007 until 2015. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican P ...

of the Republican Party defeated child safety advocate

Patty Wetterling Patricia Lynn Wetterling (born November 2, 1949) is an American advocate of children's safety and chair of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Her advocacy particularly focuses on protecting children from abduction and abuse ...

of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and project co-ordinator John Binkowski of the Independence Party.

Republican convention

Received nomination

, state senator

Withdrew

*Jay Esmay, businessman * Jim Knoblach, state representative *

Phil Krinkie Philip B. Krinkie (born February 3, 1950) is an American politician from the state of Minnesota. He is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, from 1991 to 2006, and was a candidate for in the United States House of Represent ...

, state representative *

Cheri Yecke Cheri Pierson Yecke (born February 5, 1955) is an author and retired conservative Republican professor in the United States. Biography Yecke holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Hawaii, a master's of science degree in t ...

, former Minnesota Commissioner of Education

Campaign

During the Republican convention, Bachmann and Krinkie both portrayed themselves as conservatives, while Knoblach emphasised his supposed electability.

Democratic convention

Received nomination

, children's safety advocate; mother of Jacob Wetterling

Withdrew

*Scott Mortensen * Elwyn Tinklenberg, former Mayor of Blaine ''(endorsed Wetterling)''

General election

Candidates

(Republican), state senator *John Binkowski (Independence), project coordinator for

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(Democratic-Farmer-Labor), children's safety advocate; mother of Jacob Wetterling

Campaign

Wetterling had previously run for the seat in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

against Mark Kennedy, and was widely regarded to have had a strong showing that year. Bachmann, who was considered a staunch

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

, had strong support from the conservative wing of the Republican Party. The resignation of Florida Republican Mark Foley after allegations that he sent sexually suggestive messages to underage

congressional pages A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

boosted Wetterling's campaign, as it highlighted an issue that she was very visible on. Wetterling also ran numerous ads about the scandal, claiming that the allegations proved that Republicans were not fit to control the house. Bachmann proceeded to accuse Wetterling of politicising child abuse, a claim that was criticised by

Clara Jeffery Clara Jeffery (born August 25, 1967) is an American journalist who is the editor-in-chief of ''Mother Jones (magazine), Mother Jones'' and The Center for Investigative Reporting. Career Jeffery was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was raised in A ...

, editor-in-chief of '' Mother Jones''. The race broke Minnesota records for spending on a House of Representatives election, with a total of $4.6 million being spent.

Debates

Endorsements

Polls and ratings

The election was considered highly competitive, in early October, CQPolitics.com rated it as "No Clear Favorite".

Polling

Results

References

External links

Michele Bachmann for Congress
- official
Binkowski Campaign coverage
by

Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, KNOW-FM, News & Information, KSJN, YourClassical MPR and KCMP, The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper ...

{{United States elections, 2006 Minnesota 6 2006 6 2006 Minnesota elections