If Sen. Norm Coleman holds on against Al Franken, Minnesota Republicans will break even in Congressional representation, as Rep. Michele Bachmann has been reelected and Erik Paulsen has won the seat of the retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad.

 Bachmann defeated El Tinklenberg (and some would say Chris Matthews) in the 6th District to win reelection.

 “We didn’t do it alone. We did it with you,” she said in a 12:40 a.m. acceptance speech.

 A supporter held up a homemade “Nice Try! Chris Matthews” sign behind Bachmann as she spoke, in reference to an interview Bachmann had with the MSNBC host in which she said she said thought Barack Obama held anti-American views. 

“We don’t give up, we don’t pull back, we’re going to keep fighting,” she said to raucous applause from the supporters who remained at the Sheraton early into Nov. 5.

 Paulsen defeated U alumnus Ashwin Madia in one of the most contested open seat races in the country in the 3rd District. “This is very gratifying, but this is very humbling,” Paulsen said, pushing 1 a.m. 

Bachmann was up by more than three percent, as of 1:05 a.m. Paulsen was up by almost six percent. All races, including the razor-close U.S. Senate race, will be updated on mndaily.com tomorrow.