Warning Lights Flashing For Brad Finstad As “Life in the First District is Getting Less Affordable” [Minnesota Star Tribune]

Under Finstad’s watch, “life in the First District is getting less affordable” thanks to Finstad serving as a “rubber stamp” for reckless tariffs hurting farmers and small businesses in this “heavily agricultural district.”

Democrats are “neck-and-neck with Finstad in fundraising” and are in a “more favorable position than past cycles.”

Even Republicans are indicating warning lights are flashing, with former Republican State Rep. Jeremy Munson “sens[ing] disenchantment” as “‘many voters are frustrated about the campaign promises for a full release of the Epstein files, the failed DOGE initiatives, and to oppose wars in the Middle East.’”

DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith: 
“Brad Finstad is responsible for the skyrocketing costs of everything from gas and groceries to utilities and health care, backs reckless tariffs devastating the farm economy, and puts DC ahead of the Minnesota families he’s too scared to meet face-to-face. Finstad has failed Southern Minnesotans and even Republicans can see he’s in the race of his life – which he’ll lose in November.” 

Read more:

• …the momentum she’s seen for [the Democrat’s] candidacy makes [Martin County DFL Chair Karen] McConnell now think Democrats have a shot at flipping the seat. “If we could get him more votes in every small rural district, that’s what’s needed,” McConnell said. 
• Democrats in the First District say they feel energized to oppose President Donald Trump’s second term and oust Finstad, who they argue is not accessible and is a rubber stamp on the president‘s agenda. Nationally, Democrats are feeling the wind at their backs, citing recent wins in special elections across the country, including in districts in Florida and Texas previously held by Republicans that Trump easily won in 2024. Trump’s approval rating has dropped further in recent weeks.
• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently put the First District as one of the top congressional seats it’s looking to flip this year, and [the Democrat] has been neck-and-neck with Finstad in fundraising.
• [Democrats are] running on the idea that life in the First District is getting less affordable.
• [Democrats think] Finstad’s biggest vulnerabilities include his support for Trump’s tariffs and its impact on small businesses and farmers in a heavily agricultural district. [Democrats see] Finstad’s support for Trump’s sweeping package of tax and spending cuts and its impact on rural hospitals as another vulnerability.
• Democrats think frustrations over Trump’s Operation Metro Surge, rising prices as a result of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and having popular Sen. Amy Klobuchar at the top of the ticket for governor could drive turnout this year.
• “Fifty percent or more in most of our caucuses were people who’ve never gone to a precinct caucus before, so there’s just a lot of new energy coming in, people who really seriously want to get involved,” [First District DFL Chair Lori] Sellner said.
• Finstad did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

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