Republican Rep. Brad Finstad secured his party's nomination Tuesday in the race for Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, defeating challengers Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan in the Republican primary. Finstad will advance to the general election in November.
The 1st Congressional District, located in southern Minnesota and encompassing areas like Rochester and significant farmland, is one of four seats currently held by Republicans in the state's U.S. House delegation. The Cook Political Report rates the district as 'lean Republican,' a shift from its previous 'solid Republican' designation.
Finstad, who has represented the district since winning a special election in 2022, will face the victor of the Democratic primary between Alex Eaton, a math teacher and former union leader, and Jake Johnson, a small business owner. Eaton is generally considered the more establishment candidate, while Johnson is viewed as more progressive.
The seat was previously held by Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died in February 2022 after a battle with kidney cancer. Prior to Hagedorn, the district was represented by Democrat Tim Walz, who left Congress in 2018 after being elected governor of Minnesota. Walz announced on January 5, 2026, that he would not seek reelection as governor.
While the district has trended Republican in recent election cycles, it has a history of electing representatives from both parties. Key issues expected to dominate the general election campaign include agriculture, health care, manufacturing, and the economy.