ROCHESTER, Minn. – A Rochester lawyer with background as an elections manager, Rachel Bohman, declared her candidacy for Congress from southern Minnesota’s MN-1. Bohman is a Democrat. Her candidacy puts her on course against Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. Bohman, age 47, has experience as county elections director in Minneapolis and also in Anoka. In 2012 she had a brief candidacy for secretary of state but withdrew. “Now is not the right time for me,” she said in withdrawing, deferring to other Democratic candidates in a crowded field. Bohman holds a 2002 law degree from the William Mitchell law school. Her undergrad degree is from the University of Minnesota. In recent years she has been in private practice in Rochester and also associated with the Penny-Meadow law firm. From 2018 to 2022 she served simultaneously on the Rochester Township Board.

MN-1: Purple with reddish streak

As a Democrat, Bohman may have an uphill struggle. The First Congressional District, which stretches all across southern Minnesota, from Winona to Worthington, is largely rural, agricultural and Republican.  Except for Mankato, Rochester and Winona, the district leaned to Trump for president in 2016 and 2020. There have been exceptions to the Republican  domination in recent years. These Democrast have held the MN-1 seat:

> Tim Penny, a Winona State University grad, from 1983 to 1995.

> Tim Walz, of Mankato, who is Minnesota’s current governor, from 2007 to 2019.

A MN-1 campaign typically has cost $1 million to $3 million, but insiders say the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has other priorities for its budget this year. In effect, the committee has been willing at this point to concede MN-1 to Finstad’s re-election. This in part has  been because no Democrats, until Bohman now, have presented themselves.

Bohman. An unexpected candidacy against first-term GOP incumbent Brad Finstad, a New Ulm farmer.

Verbatim

Bohman: ““I’m proud to be raising my family here in southern Minnesota. We are so fortunate to have great schools, safe communities, and wonderful neighbors. I also recognize this moment presents unique challenges for those of us who call it home. I believe this district is ready for compassionate leadership that recognizes that the country works best when it works together. I am committed to bringing home results for everyone in Southern Minnesota.”

Electoral history

Democratic leaders had tried to interest Jeff Ettinger, the retried chief executive of Hormel Foods in Austin. Although widely respected and likeable, Ettinger lost twice to Finstad, in both a 2022 special election also in the 2022 general election. Ettinger, however, has been obligated as interim president of the University of Minnesota with those responsibilities through June. There also were overtures to Dan Feehan, an Iraq war veteran who later was a deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness at the Pentagon in the Obama administration. Feehan, however, lost two campaigns for the MN-1 seat and has backed off from politics. The recent history:

MN-1. In white. Population: 760,000.

> 2018: Incumbent Jim Hagedorn, a Republican, defeated Feehan 50% to 49%.

> 2020: Hagedorn defeated Feehan 48% to 45%.

> 2022: Finstad defeated Ettinger 50% to 46% in a special election triggered by the mid-term death of Hagedorn.

> 2022: In the general election Finstad defeated Ettinger 53% to 42%.

Shape of 2024 campaigns

Bohman’s greatest challenge is to introduce herself around the 22 counties that comprise MN-1. With the November election only eight months away, she has a late start. Finstad already has been out and about. Last week he was hand-shaking and back-slapping at the giant Fastenal plant in Winona. Before his announce,=ment for re-election, Finstad already had plastered the district with a slick mailer that was a thinly veiled re-election pitch –  although paid for and mailed with Congressional franking funds.

Finances. The Finstad and Bohman campaigns likely will be low budget. Correctly or not, national Republican strategists regard MN-1 as safe. Their funds are going instead to races they see as vulnerable. Democratic strategists also are focusing their funding elsewhere. Bohman’s ability to raise funds are unknown. In 2022 Finstad had contributions of $1.5 million. So far in 2024 he has $900,000.

Issues. On issues Bohman so far has chosen safe positions. Her focus, she said, would be on rising consumer prices, health care access and local business investment. Finstad, on the other hand, has a record that may hurt him or help. He held an appointment as Donald Trump’s Minnesota agricultural liaison when Trump was president. And Trump endorsed Finstad for Congress in 2022 and has again this year. This makes him toxic to some voters, even diehards in the fractured GOP. Once elected, in 2022 Finstad consistently has supported Trump and voted with MAGA Republicans. Other than hand, his record in Congress has been undistinguished. To be sure it’s difficult for a first-termer in the 435-House to stand out. His House committee assignments:  Agriculture and also Armed Services.

Finstad key votes. Among GOP House leaders Finstad is regarfed a reliable go-along-to-get along member. His votes in key issues: have been party line:

> For the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which provided $827 billion for military priorities.

> Against the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the single largest investment in climate and energy in U.S. history.

> Against the 2022 Defense of Marriage Act, which ended federal discrimination against same-sex unions.

> Against the 2023 Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided $47 billion in emergency support for Ukraine to repulse Russian aggression.

> Against the 2022 Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, a post-Trump clarification.

Consistently Finstad has been with the Trump-directed MAGA faction in the House. Back in his MN-1 home district on House breaks and weekends, Finstad has chosen to back off his Trump connections — a recognition of the beleaguered ex-president’s legal vulnerabilities as a defendant facing 91 criminal counts in several high-visibility court cases. Finstad also has become silent on his anti-abortion position as women’s health has found rising voter support and a litmus test issue. In short: Finstad has baggage, and Bohman has yet to define herself clearly.

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