2012Final results
2012 election for Minnesota's 3rd District
U.S. House · Minnesota
Erik Paulsen (R) won with 58.1% of the vote, defeating Brian Barnes (D) by 16.3 points.
Erik PaulsenRepublican · winner
58.1%222,335
Brian BarnesDemocrat
41.8%159,937
382,705 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 2012
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.
Brian BarnesErik Paulsen
$400.4K
Raised by the campaign
$3.1M
$397.9K
Spent by the campaign
$2.6M
$2.5K
Cash on hand
$693.8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2012.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2012