One Tiny Minnesota Suburb Is Responsible for More than 10 Percent of All In State Large Donor Funds Contributed to the State's Eight U.S. House Members

Where do Minnesota's U.S. House members get the biggest bang for their buck when looking to build their campaign warchests? Minneapolis? St. Paul?

Think smaller. Much smaller.

According to a Smart Politics analysis of Federal Elections Commission data for the first three quarters of 2009, the small, affluent western suburb of Wayzata has contributed more money per capita to the campaigns of the state's eight U.S. Representatives this year than any other city in the Gopher State.

Despite having a population of slightly over 4,000 as of the 2000 U.S. Census, Wayzata residents have contributed more money in 2009 than any other Minnesota city with the exception of Minneapolis.

Wayzata residents have given $149,050 in itemized individual contributions through September, compared to $193,719 for Minneapolis - which has approximately 100 times more residents.

When examining the amount of contributions per capita, Wayzata has given $36.24 per resident, compared to $0.51 for Minneapolis, or a 71 times higher rate for the wealthy suburb.

In terms of total large donor ($200+) individual contributions, Wayzatians have given nearly $50,000 more to the state's eight U.S. Representatives than the residents of St. Paul ($104,050) - or a 101 times higher rate per resident than the Gopher State's second largest city ($0.36).

Overall, Wazayta has contributed 11.3 percent of the $1.3 million in large donor contributions that have been sent to Minnesota's U.S. House delegation from across the state, despite the city having just 0.08 percent of the state's population.

And which officeholders are the beneficiaries of this inordinate amount of campaign financing coming from this small town of 4,000+ residents?

More than half of the money from Wayzatians ($85,050) has been directed to the campaign of that town's U.S. Representative, Republican Erik Paulsen. Overall, 87.9 percent of Wayzata resident's contributions have gone to the state's three GOP Representatives (with Michele Bachmann receiving $26,450 and John Kline getting $19,500).

The state's five DFL U.S. Representatives combined have received less money from Wayzatians ($18,050) than Kline's third place tally.

Itemized Individual Contributions to Minnesota's U.S. Representatives from Wayzata Residents, January-September 2009

Rank	Representative	Contributions	Percent
1	Erik Paulsen	$85,050	57.1
2	Michele Bachmann	$26,450	17.7
3	John Kline	$19,500	13.1
4	Tim Walz	$12,550	8.4
5	Betty McCollum	$3,750	2.5
6	Keith Ellison	$1,250	0.8
7	Jim Oberstar	$500	0.3
8	Collin Peterson	0	0.0
	Total	$149,050	100.0

Sources: Federal Elections Commission and U.S. Census (2000). Table compiled by Smart Politics.

Rounding out the Top 5 cities in terms of per resident contributions in the Gopher State is the small town of Woodstock in Pipestone County ($29.55 per resident), the small Twin Cities suburbs of Excelsior ($19.89) and Lilydale ($16.01), and the city of Lakeland in Washington County ($13.04).

Excelsior, despite having a population of less than 3,000, has seen its residents give more than $47,000 to Minnesota's U.S. House delegation this year - good for the sixth highest total funds from any city across the state. Excelsior does not rank even in the Top 110 cities in the Gopher State in terms of population.

The other Top 10 cities in terms of total large donor contributions are Edina (#4, $93,350), Eden Prairie (#5, $85,650), Prior Lake (#7, $35,550), Burnsville (#8, $33,900), Minnetonka (#9, $29,450), and Woodbury (#10, $26,635).

And as for Minneapolis, the state's largest (and overwhelmingly Democratic) city, 54.8 percent of large donor money ($106,174) was directed towards the three GOP members of Congress - 26.2 percent to Paulsen, 15.0 percent to Bachmann, and 13.6 percent to Kline. DFLer Tim Walz collected the most money ($52,170, or 26.9 percent), with 7.9 percent to Betty McCollum and just 6.1 percent to Keith Ellison ($11,750), who represents the city as part of the 5th Congressional District.

Ellison's lack of fundraising within his own district was profiled earlier this week at Smart Politics.

Itemized Individual Contributions to Minnesota's U.S. Representatives from Minneapolis Residents, January-September 2009

Rank	Representative	Contributions	Percent
1	Tim Walz	$52,170	26.9
2	Erik Paulsen	$50,814	26.2
3	Michele Bachmann	$29,045	15.0
4	John Kline	$26,315	13.6
5	Betty McCollum	$15,275	7.9
6	Keith Ellison	$11,750	6.1
7	Jim Oberstar	$8,100	4.2
8	Collin Peterson	$250	0.1
	Total	$193,719	100.0

Sources: Federal Elections Commission and U.S. Census (2000). Table compiled by Smart Politics.

There were several large Minnesota cities whose residents have been noticeably disengaged from political campaign giving so far this year - such as Austin ($200 for the year to date, or $0.01 per resident), Albert Lea ($250; $0.01), Owatonna ($250; $0.01), Fridley ($250; $0.01), Savage ($300; $0.01), Shakopee ($300; $0.02), Blaine ($1,000; $0.02), and Duluth ($2,250; $0.03).

Per Capita Itemized Individual Contributions by City to Minnesota's U.S. Representatives, January-September 2009

Rank	City	Contributions	Population	Per Resident
1	Wayzata	$149,050	4,113	$36.24
2	Woodstock	$3,900	132	$29.55
3	Excelsior	$47,600	2,393	$19.89
4	Lilydale	$8,836	552	$16.01
5	Lakeland	$25,000	1,917	$13.04
6	Crystal Bay	$6,800	607	$11.20
7	Long Lake	$17,350	1,842	$9.42
8	Welch	$5,250	697	$7.53
9	Onamia	$5,600	847	$6.61
10	Nerstrand	$1,390	233	$5.97
11	Sunfish Lake	$3,000	504	$5.95
12	Viking	$500	92	$5.43
13	Peterson	$1,250	269	$4.65
14	Minnetonka Beach	$2,500	614	$4.07
15	Hartland	$1,000	288	$3.47
16	Marine on St. Croix	$1,850	602	$3.07
17	Minnetrista	$11,100	4,358	$2.55
18	Deerwood	$1,500	590	$2.54
19	Perley	$300	121	$2.48
20	Waconia	$16,800	6,814	$2.47
21	Cass Lake	$2,000	860	$2.33
22	Morton	$1,000	442	$2.26
23	Prior Lake	$35,550	15,917	$2.23
24	Sturgeon Lake	$700	347	$2.02
25	Orono	$14,875	7,538	$1.97
25	Edina	$93,350	47,425	$1.97
27	Garfield	$500	281	$1.78
28	Kimball	$1,100	635	$1.73
29	Eden Prairie	$85,650	54,901	$1.56
30	Medina	$5,900	4,005	$1.47
31	Dellwood	$1,500	1,033	$1.45
32	Rice	$1,000	711	$1.41
33	Deephaven	$5,050	3,853	$1.31
34	North Oaks	$5,000	3,883	$1.29
35	Lake Elmo	$8,800	6,863	$1.28
36	Center City	$735	582	$1.26
37	Victoria	$4,800	4,025	$1.19
37	Sabin	$500	421	$1.19
39	Donnelly	$300	254	$1.18
40	Erskine	$500	437	$1.14
41	Becker	$3,030	2,673	$1.13
42	Okabena	$200	185	$1.08
43	Clarkfield	$1,000	944	$1.06
44	Woodland	$500	480	$1.04
45	Beaver Creek	$250	250	$1.00
46	Anoka	$16,650	18,076	$0.92
47	Sleepy Eye	$3,085	3,515	$0.88
48	Mound	$8,120	9,435	$0.86
49	Champlin	$18,800	22,193	$0.85
50	Red Wing	$12,850	16,116	$0.80
51	Lake Lillian	$200	257	$0.78
52	Alden	$500	652	$0.77
52	Stillwater	$11,600	15,143	$0.77
54	Green Isle	$250	334	$0.75
55	Battle Lake	$500	686	$0.73
56	Rogers	$2,550	3,588	$0.71
57	Glenville	$500	720	$0.69
58	Maple Plain	$1,400	2,088	$0.67
59	Tonka Bay	$1,000	1,547	$0.65
60	Ashby	$300	472	$0.64
61	Ada	$1,050	1,657	$0.63
62	Golden Valley	$12,350	20,281	$0.61
63	Coon Rapids	$1,850	3,211	$0.58
64	Fisher	$250	435	$0.57
64	Minnetonka	$29,450	51,301	$0.57
64	Woodbury	$26,635	46,463	$0.57
67	Burnsville	$33,900	60,220	$0.56
68	Mahtomedi	$4,100	7,563	$0.54
69	Minneapolis	$193,719	382,618	$0.51
70	Franklin	$250	498	$0.50
70	Mendota Heights	$5,700	11,434	$0.50
72	Granite Falls	$1,000	2,025	$0.49
72	St. Peter	$4,800	9,747	$0.49
74	Glyndon	$500	1,049	$0.48
75	Bethel	$210	443	$0.47
75	White Bear Lake	$11,350	24,325	$0.47
77	Prinsburg	$200	458	$0.44
78	Crosby	$1,000	2,299	$0.43
78	Maple Lake	$700	1,633	$0.43
80	North Mankato	$5,000	11,798	$0.42
80	Mankato	$13,370	32,427	$0.41
82	Greenwood	$300	729	$0.41
82	Perham	$1,000	2,559	$0.39
84	Goodhue	$300	778	$0.39
84	Falcon Heights	$2,125	5,572	$0.38
84	Starbuck	$500	1,314	$0.38
87	St. Paul	$104,050	287,151	$0.36
87	Plainview	$1,150	3,190	$0.36
87	Kandiyohi	$200	555	$0.36
87	Hopkins	$6,150	17,145	$0.36
87	Independence	$1,150	3,236	$0.36
92	Roseville	$11,720	33,690	$0.35
93	Elbow Lake	$400	1,275	$0.31
94	Sartell	$2,900	9,641	$0.30
94	Winona	$8,000	27,069	$0.30
96	Arden Hills	$2,800	9,652	$0.29
96	Twin Valley	$250	865	$0.29
96	Delano	$1,105	3,837	$0.29
99	Rochester	$24,150	85,806	$0.28
99	Circle Pines	$1,300	4,663	$0.28
99	Sherburn	$300	1,082	$0.28
102	Eden Valley	$100	366	$0.27
103	Plymouth	$17,300	65,894	$0.26
104	St. Michael	$2,300	9,099	$0.25
104	Chisago City	$650	2,622	$0.25
106	Chanhassen	$4,950	20,321	$0.24
106	Avon	$300	1,242	$0.24
106	Isanti	$550	2,324	$0.24
109	New Prague	$1,050	4,559	$0.23
109	St. Augusta	$700	3,065	$0.23
109	Northfield	$3,900	17,147	$0.23
112	Afton	$625	2,839	$0.22
113	Rosemount	$3,100	14,619	$0.21
113	Bird Island	$250	1,195	$0.21
113	Forest Lake	$3,000	14,440	$0.21
116	Stacy	$250	1,278	$0.20
117	Maple Grove	$9,485	50,365	$0.19
118	Dundas	$100	547	$0.18
118	St. Cloud	$10,670	59,107	$0.18
118	Hugo	$1,135	6,363	$0.18
121	Montrose	$200	1,143	$0.17
121	Hector	$200	1,166	$0.17
121	Hastings	$3,075	18,201	$0.17
121	Cold Spring	$500	2,975	$0.17
125	Dayton	$750	4,686	$0.16
125	Waseca	$1,350	8,493	$0.16
125	Pequot Lakes	$150	947	$0.16
125	Canby	$300	1,903	$0.16
125	Bloomington	$13,280	85,172	$0.16
130	Ivanhoe	$100	679	$0.15
130	Minnesota Lake	$100	681	$0.15
130	Warroad	$250	1,722	$0.15
133	Gilbert	$250	1,847	$0.14
134	Belgrade	$100	750	$0.13
134	Buffalo	$1,300	10,097	$0.13
136	Hinckley	$150	1,291	$0.12
137	Long Prairie	$300	3,040	$0.10
137	Andover	$2,590	26,588	$0.10
137	Elk River	$1,575	16,447	$0.10
140	Walker	$100	1,069	$0.09
140	Lino Lakes	$1,550	16,791	$0.09
140	Spring Grove	$115	1,304	$0.09
140	Lakeville	$3,800	43,128	$0.09
140	Chatfield	$100	1,137	$0.09
145	Wyoming	$250	3,048	$0.08
145	Moorhead	$2,600	32,177	$0.08
145	Ham Lake	$1,000	12,710	$0.08
145	Centerville	$250	3,202	$0.08
149	Roseau	$200	2,756	$0.07
149	Zumbrota	$200	2,789	$0.07
149	Byron	$250	3,500	$0.07
149	Apple Valley	$3,225	45,527	$0.07
149	Zimmerman	$200	2,851	$0.07
149	Detroit Lakes	$500	7,348	$0.07
149	Inver Grove Heights	$2,000	29,751	$0.07
149	East Grand Forks	$500	7,501	$0.07
149	Eagan	$4,150	63,557	$0.07
158	St. Louis Park	$2,800	44,126	$0.06
158	Faribault	$1,300	20,818	$0.06
158	Princeton	$230	3,933	$0.06
158	Monticello	$460	7,868	$0.06
162	Oak Park Heights	$200	3,957	$0.05
162	Maplewood	$1,700	34,947	$0.05
162	Oakdale	$1,292	26,653	$0.05
162	Shoreview	$1,250	25,924	$0.05
162	New Brighton	$1,050	22,206	$0.05
162	Stewartville	$250	5,411	$0.05
162	Glencoe	$250	5,453	$0.05
162	Kasson	$200	4,398	$0.05
170	Jordan	$150	3,833	$0.04
170	South St. Paul	$750	20,167	$0.04
172	New Ulm	$450	13,594	$0.03
172	North St. Paul	$375	11,929	$0.03
172	West St. Paul	$600	19,405	$0.03
172	Brooklyn Park	$1,950	67,388	$0.03
172	Hutchinson	$350	13,080	$0.03
172	Duluth	$2,250	86,918	$0.03
178	Fairmont	$250	10,889	$0.02
178	Blaine	$1,000	44,942	$0.02
178	Columbia Heights	$400	18,520	$0.02
178	St. Joseph	$100	4,681	$0.02
178	Shakopee	$400	20,568	$0.02
	Other	$11,550
	Total	$1,319,387

Sources: Federal Elections Commission and U.S. Census (2000). Table compiled by Smart Politics.

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