Face Off in Special Election on August 9
On May 24, voters in Southern Minnesota selected candidates for a special election to fill the remaining term of late Congressman Jim Hagedorn. A friend to small businesses in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District and across the state, Congressman Hagedorn passed away in February following a long bout with cancer.
Republicans selected Brad Finstad, a fourth-generation farmer from the New Ulm area and former USDA official in the Trump Administration, as their nominee. Finstad also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008, and as CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development based in St. Peter.
Democrats chose former Hormel CEO and first-time candidate Jeff Ettinger as their nominee. Ettinger currently serves as co-chair of Governor Walz’s Council on Economic Expansion. The council was established to “reimagine Minnesota’s economic future” and “center workers in our rebuilding of the economy and further attack poverty.” Among other proposals, the council recommended the state spend $25 million to establish Universal Basic Income pilot program and create a state-run paid leave program funded by a new $1 billion/year payroll tax.
Finstad and Ettinger will face off in a Special Election on August 9 to finish the remainder of Congressman Hagedorn’s term, which runs through the end of 2022.
On the same day, Finstad and Ettinger will also be on the ballot in primary races to determine who will go onto the General Election in November. The winner of the November election will serve a full, two year-term.
