JACKSON, Minn. – Incumbent Congress member Brad Finstad won the Republican endorsement for a new term in Congress at the party’s MN-1 conventional. No one else offered significant opposition. In Congress he holds a position on the House Agriculture Committee, which House leadership thought made sense considering Finstad’s background as a turkey farmer. As a freshman member of Congress Finstad has gone largely unnoticed among the 435 members. The leadership sees him as a reliable and low-maintenance party member. He has not sponsored notable legislation. Some of his votes have been oddly ideological and flag-waving but safe albeit functionally pointless, like favoring a resolution denouncing socialism. He also voted to investigate Presidemt Biden for impeachment despite there being no evidence of “high crimes misdemeanors” required for impeachment. o win his two electins he Congress, Finstad filed reports that he spent $683,000 the first time and $1.5 million the second time. Contributions, mostly from the national Republican Party and special interests, exceeded expenditures by $400,000. His salary in Congress: $174,000.
Verbatim
Aaron Farris, state Repuoianchair, released the following statement: “Congressman Finstad has been a passionate fighter for the people of southern Minnesota. Congressman Finstad has held the line on critical issues to southern Minnesotans such as voting to secure the southern border, to lower energy prices, to to support our veterans and small businesses, and to reign in the Environmental Protection Agency and other government regulators, and to cut down on fraudulent government spending. Congressman Finstad will continue to stand strong for our southern Minnesota way of life.”
Finstad profile
Finstad, age 47, was elected in 2022 in a special election after Jim Hagedorn died in office. He was elected to a full term later in 2022. In both races Finstad defeated retired Hormel executive Jeff Ettinger, first 59% to 55%, then 53% to 42%. Earlier Finstad served three terms in the he Minnesota House. During the Trump presidency, he was appointed as a loyalist by the President as a state agricultural liaison although his duties were bever clearly defined. In his current re-election bid, Finstad has Trump’s endorsement, although, considering Trump’s growing legal problems over election finance fraud, hush money and libel, Finstad doesn’t bring up his Trump connections anymore as he tours the 21-county southern MN-1 district. In fact, however, Finstad has endorsed Trump. Finstad also has gone silent on other issues on which GOP candidates have become vulnerable. These include his strident anti-abortion views and opposition to any level of gun safety legislation. Recently he voted against weapons aid to Ukraine to resist the Russian invasion. He also voted against expelling the fake New York Congressman Gorge Santos from the House and also against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
GOP electors
Elected at the Jackson convention as delegates to the Republican national convention in Milwaukee were Chuck Bradford of Mantorville, Aaron Eberhart of Mankato, and Aaron Farris of Albert Lea. Elected as alternates: Jackson Cox, Rebecca Lippert of Rice County and Holly Moulli. Elected as the MN-1 Republican presidential elector was Aaron Eberhart of Mantorville, with Greg Bartz as of Carver County as alternate.