2010Final results
2010 election for Minnesota's 3rd District
U.S. House · Minnesota
Erik Paulsen (R) won with 58.8% of the vote, defeating Jim Meffert (D) by 22.2 points.
Erik PaulsenRepublican · winner
58.8%161,177
Jim MeffertDemocrat
36.6%100,240
Jon OlesonIndependent
4.6%12,508
274,092 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 2010
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.
Jim MeffertErik Paulsen
$529.4K
Raised by the campaign
$2.7M
$529.3K
Spent by the campaign
$2.6M
$101
Cash on hand
$149.5K
Other candidates' campaigns: Jon Oleson $18.9K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2010.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2010