Who's running in Minnesota's 1st congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Brad Finstad currently holds this seat
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Federal farm policy 'written by farmers, for farmers' that avoids burdensome obstacles.
Keeping more money in paychecks and giving small businesses certainty.
Keeping the border secure and resuming construction of the southern border wall.
Safeguards to ensure only US citizens vote in federal elections.
Passing a farm bill; he says the House has done its part and the Senate must act.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Minnesota's 1st District since August 2022; reelected in 2024 with 58.6% of the vote.
Former Minnesota state representative and former USDA Rural Development state director during President Trump's first term.
Voted for the 2025 tax and spending law that extended the 2017 tax cuts.
Co-sponsored a bill by Rep. Tom Emmer to require states to provide voter records sought by the Trump administration or lose federal funding.
Has held virtual and telephone town halls rather than in-person town halls.
Won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary with 90.1%; endorsed by President Trump and the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Arguments in favor
Washington 'sorely needs some Midwestern common sense', and as someone who still helps run his family farm he brings that experience to Congress rather than chasing viral soundbites.
— Brad Finstad, campaign website
Republicans in Congress have 'ended lawlessness on our formerly open southern border', 'delivered tax relief that Americans are starting to see this year', and crime is declining.
— Brad Finstad, written response to MinnPost
His seat on the House Agriculture Committee puts southern Minnesota at the table on farm issues, and the House has passed the first farm bill since 2018.
— Brad Finstad, at the Farmfest candidate forum, reported by Agweek
Arguments against
'There has not been a farm bill delivered since he's been in Congress. That's just a fact' — and the House bill leaves input costs and export markets hurt by tariffs untouched.
— Jake Johnson, DFL opponent, at Farmfest, reported by Agweek
He has backed President Trump's tariffs, which have raised farmers' input costs and cost them overseas markets.
— Jake Johnson, DFL opponent, to MinnPost
He has not held in-person town halls with constituents, relying on phone and virtual events instead.
— Jake Johnson, DFL opponent, at a post-primary press conference reported by KTTC
What we couldn’t verify
Whether Finstad and Johnson will hold a general-election debate had not been reported.
Finstad's campaign did not respond to KTTC's request for comment on Johnson's post-primary criticisms.
Making life more affordable, including grocery, utility and health care costs.
Passing a bipartisan farm bill and funding rural health care.
Holding in-person town halls in each of the district's 21 counties.
Term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court.
Banning stock trading by members of Congress and limiting presidential pardon powers.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
High school math teacher in Rochester for about 20 years; long-time faculty representative for Education Minnesota.
Has not previously held or run for elected office.
Won the DFL endorsement in May 2026 and the August 11 DFL primary with 81.7%.
Raised a little more than $750,000 in 2025, according to MinnPost.
Qualified for the ballot by petition signatures instead of paying the filing fee.
Says his campaign does not take corporate money.
Arguments in favor
He is 'a math teacher who knows when the bills aren't adding up' — someone raising a family on teachers' and paraprofessionals' pay who feels rising costs the way district families do.
— Jake Johnson campaign website
His campaign is 'powered by people' and focused on meeting constituents where they are, including in-person town halls the incumbent has not held.
— Jake Johnson, to KTTC and the Post Bulletin after the primary
He is willing to work with anyone and is 'not running against President Trump; I'm running against Brad Finstad'.
— Jake Johnson, to MinnPost
Arguments against
He is 'a far-left liberal activist who puts the radical priorities of the Democrat Party ahead of southern Minnesota', whose 'support for higher taxes and defunding the police' won't win over the district.
— Zach Bannon, NRCC spokesman
Congress has already acted: the House passed a farm bill and the Senate must now finish it, while Trump administration trade deals and bridge payments are helping farmers through a hard stretch.
— Brad Finstad, responding at Farmfest, reported by Agweek
What we couldn’t verify
The NRCC did not cite a specific statement by Johnson supporting higher taxes or defunding police, and none was found.
Johnson's detailed positions on immigration and tax policy were not found on his campaign site.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Minnesota held its primaries on August 11, 2026; November 3 is the general election and the winner is decided by plurality, with no runoff. The district uses the same court-drawn map adopted in 2022; no redistricting or map litigation affecting 2026 was found. Two candidates are on the ballot: Republican incumbent Brad Finstad, who won his primary with 90.1% over Greg Goetzman and Oliver Morlan, and DFL nominee Jake Johnson, who beat Alex Eaton with 81.7%. No minor-party or independent candidate was found for this seat on Ballotpedia's general election list. Roster from Wikipedia and Ballotpedia, confirmed by Post Bulletin and KTTC primary-night reporting. The district stretches across southern Minnesota along the Iowa border, anchored by Rochester. Finstad was reelected in 2024 with 58.6%. The DCCC added Johnson to its Red to Blue programme.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Minnesota ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Minnesota Secretary of State.