The First Congressional District of Minnesota extends across the southern counties of the state. According to the 2000 census the district differs from the national averages in being 94.6% white. In the 2006 contest Democrat Tim Walz defeated incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht 53% (141,622 votes) to 47% (126,487 votes). Gutknecht was first elected in 1994. In the 2008 contest Walz defeated Republican challenger Brian J. Davis and Independence challenger Gregory Mikkelson. Walz received 62.5% of the vote (207,748 votes), Davis 32.9% (109,446 votes) and Mikkelson 4.5% (14,903 votes).