398px-erik_paulsenRep Erik Paulsen raised more than $350,000 in the second quarter of 2009 — more than any of his Minnesota colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives. The freshman Republican had almost $500,000 in the bank at the end of June, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Paulsen won the open seat in a swing district by a surprisingly wide margin in 2008, besting Ashwin Madia by eight percentage points. The Cook Political Report currently lists the race as “likely Republican” for 2010. Paulsen has so far not attracted any challengers.

Meanwhile Rep. Tim Walz brought in roughly $180,000 in the period running from April through June, the fifth largest haul among Minnesota’s House members. The second-term Democrat had slightly more than $200,000 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Walz won his second term by a landslide last year, winning with nearly double the votes his Republican opponent had. The seat doesn’t make Cook Political Report’s list of competitive races.