[6] In February 2012, a state court panel redrew Minnesota's congressional boundaries with the effect of enacting a "least-change" map.

[7] Patrick Ganey, a member of the Northfield City Council;[31] Kathleen Gaylord, a member of the Dakota County Commission;[32] former state Representative Mike Obermueller;[33] and Dan Powers, a former small business owner who unsuccessfully sought the DFL nomination in the 2nd district in 2010,[34] sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Kline.

In redistricting, the 3rd district was expanded to include eastern Carver County, while part of the northeastern Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area was moved to the 5th.

Brian Barnes, an Edina businessman and former Navy Reserve officer[45] and Sharon Sund, a Plymouth scientist and small-business owner[46] sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to challenge Paulsen.

In the third district Democratic convention, Barnes won the party endorsement and Sund backed his candidacy.

Gary Boisclair, an anti-abortion activist, and Gregg Iverson unsuccessfully challenged Ellison in the Democratic primary.

[58] In redistricting, the 5th district was expanded to include parts of Brooklyn Center, Edina and Minnetonka, and continued to strongly favor Democrats.

[7] Ron Seiford, an adjunct business instructor at Woodbury's Globe College,[65] and Aubrey Immelman unsuccessfully challenged her in the Republican nomination, though Bachmann won by the lowest margin of any incumbent Republican congressional candidate in 50 years.

[7] Labor unions Organizations Organizations Chip Cravaack Republican Rick Nolan Democratic (DFL) Republican Chip Cravaack, who was first elected to represent Minnesota's 8th congressional district in 2010, sought re-election.