Minnesota 1st District
Brad Finstad (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
What the betting markets sayprices of Nov 9
96% Jake JohnsonBrad Finstad 4%
Polymarket, $132K bet. A price is a chance: 96 cents on Johnson pays a dollar if they win.
Brad Finstad
Republican · holds this seat today
A-Liberty Score A-On the liberty side in 96 of 107 votes and bills.
Raised $2,765,870 since January 2025: 49% from PACs and other committees, 37% from people, 14% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Jake Johnson
Democrat · Rochester teacher, Democratic nominee
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Johnson, and what Johnson has said and done settles only 2 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Voting in Minnesota: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jake Johnson, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Johnson, so the grade above comes from this list: what Johnson has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
After the February 2026 strikes on Iran he called on Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to stop the conflict.
“Congress must act immediately and pass a War Powers Resolution to stop this conflict from escalating further.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A war powers resolution aimed at stopping action against Iran is against liberty on tyranny.
-
Said the people of southern Minnesota want to end the tariffs and the Iran War and that he would vote to do so.
“The people of southern Minnesota want to end the tariffs and the Iran War, and that’s what I’ll vote to do if I’m elected to Congress.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Ending the war with no bill or vote named is unclear by the site's rule; his war powers line is filed separately.
-
He said the tariffs should end.
“we’ve got to end the tariffs. That’s number one on my mind.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Ending broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
-
His campaign site backs tax cuts for working families paid for by higher taxes on large corporations and the very wealthy.
“tax cuts for working families and small businesses, paid for by raising taxes”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy are against liberty on free markets.
-
At a televised debate he said tariffs are a tax that costs people in southern Minnesota more.
“Tariffs are a tax. They’re costing people in southern Minnesota more”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
-
Asked about abolishing ICE, he said he does not see it as the best way forward.
“I don’t see [abolishing ICE] as the best way of moving forward”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Declining to abolish ICE does not by itself settle the measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
Minnesota 1st District
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.