STEWARTVILLE, Minn. — As expected, math teacher and labor organizer Jake Johnson won the endorsement for Congress from Democrats in Minnesota’s First Congressional District. Barring a surprise challenger on the August primary ballot, the endorsement puts Johnson on the November general election against two-term Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. At their endorsement convention at Stewartville High School, Democrats waxed enthusiastically at Johnson’s prospects and also on Finstad’s liabilities. The consensus was that Finstad is finding it impossible to disentangle himself from his allegiance to President Trump, whose approval rating has dropped to historic lows in the 30% range across virtually all issues — the Iran war, affordability, healthcare, nutrition, inflation, a shift in tax policy in favor of wealthy people and to the disadvantage of everybody else, and ,especially in Minnesota, Trump’s Operation Metro Surge. About his prospects, however, Johnson acknowledged a lot of work ahead:
“This DFL endorsement is a big step forward, and while I’m grateful, I know it doesn’t win us the race. We’re still up against an incumbent backed by corporate PACs, outside money, and the political establishment. And now that this race is getting more attention, that money is only going to increase.”
At the convention Johnson claimed that record numbers of Republicans and Independents have joined the Democratic movement in southern Minnesota’s 20 county MN-1 district. The District, he said, had the most Republicans and Independents show up at earlier precinct caucuses than in any of the other seven Minnesota congressional districts: “It’s just more proof that our campaign is actually reaching the voters we need to bring back into the Democratic Party.”
Johnson. Background as leader in Rochester teachers’ union. At Mayo High School he teaches math. Yes, that’s an algebraic equations on his classroom whiteboard.
Campaign dollars
So far in primary season. From federally required campaign finance statements:
Finstad: Contributions: $1.3 million. Expenditures: $599,000.
Johnson. Contributions: $1.2 million. Expenditures: $541,000.