2002Final results
2002 election for Minnesota's 8th District
U.S. House · Minnesota
James Oberstar (D) won with 68.6% of the vote, defeating Bob Lemen (R) by 37.4 points.
James OberstarDemocrat · winner
68.6%194,909
Bob LemenRepublican
31.2%88,673
283,931 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2002
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
James OberstarBob Lemen
$1.1M
Raised by the campaign
$17K
$1M
Spent by the campaign
$17.6K
$75.3K
Cash on hand
$623
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2002.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2002