August 9 is Big Election Day in Southern Minnesota

July 28, 2022

August 9 is Big Election Day in Southern Minnesota

On August 9, voters across Minnesota will head to the polls for the state’s Primary Election to determine which candidates from each party will go onto the General Election in November. In Southern Minnesota, there’s also a Special Election to decide who will complete the remainder of late Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s (R-Blue Earth) term in Congress. NFIB Fed PAC has endorsed farmer and former state Representative Brad Finstad (R-New Ulm) in the Primary Election and Special Election for Congressional District 1. A fourth-generation farmer and NFIB member from New Ulm, Finstad represented Brown and Redwood Counties in the Minnesota House from 2003-2008. After the Legislature, Finstad spent nine years as CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, a nonpartisan organization based in St. Peter, MN. In 2017, he was appointed by the Trump Administration as State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota. Finstad has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R, MN-07) and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R, MN-08), as well as many current and former state legislators. On Tuesday, August 9th, Southern Minnesota voters should look for Brad’s name twice on their ballots:

On the front for the 1st Congressional District Primary
On the back for the 1st Congressional District Special Election

Not sure where to vote? Find your polling place here: Voter Information Portal (state.mn.us) If you’re not already registered to vote or need to update your registration, learn more about what you need to bring on Election Day: Minnesota Secretary Of State – Register on Election Day. Political Outlook While the boundaries of CD 1 will change for the General Election in November due to redistricting, the Special Election will be conducted under the same boundaries as the 2020 election. The Cook Political Report most recently rated “old” MN CD 1 as R+8, meaning they see it favoring Republicans by eight points. President Trump carried the district with 52.8% in 2016 and 53.9% in 2020. In 2020, election analysts at 538 rated the “old” district as Lean Republican, and Rep. Hagedorn won with 48.6% of the vote. Old Congressional District 1 (Special Election, Aug. 9):

New Congressional District 1 (General Election, Nov. 8):

The “new” CD 1 keeps most of the “old” territory, losing Le Sueur and part of Brown Counties while picking up conservative-leaning areas in Goodhue and Wabasha Counties. It is now rated “R+8” by the Cook Political Report, and the race is currently predicted as a “Likely Republican” victory.