Brad Finstad

In the 2024 House race for MN-1, Brad Finstad (R) won with 58.5% of the vote, defeating Rachel Bohman (D) who received 41.4%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Brad Finstad's 17.1-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

As the incumbent, Brad Finstad benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for MN-1, Brad Finstad (R) won with 53.8% of the vote, defeating Jeff Ettinger (D) who received 42.3%. 3 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Brad Finstad's 11.5-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Jim Hagedorn (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Brad Finstad benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.