Republican · Minnesota's 1st District · 2026
Brad Finstad
Finstad and his wife, Jackie, met on the school bus in second grade.
Biography
Brad Finstad and his wife, Jackie, met on the school bus in second grade.1 They now have seven children and work alongside extended family on their farm near New Ulm.1 Finstad is the fourth generation of his family to farm.1
He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in agricultural education and an emphasis in rural leadership development.1 He and Jackie also operate an agricultural business in the New Ulm area.1 His professional experience includes executive positions with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and the Center for Rural Policy and Development.1
Finstad served three terms in Minnesota's Legislature and later led the state's USDA Rural Development office.1 That work involved rural infrastructure, business development, homeownership, community services and broadband access.1 He won the August 9, 2022 special election for Congress and took office three days later.1 He currently serves on Agriculture, Armed Services and Small Business, and chairs Agriculture's Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee.2 and.3
In agriculture policy, Finstad advocates greater input from farmers and rural communities and reducing regulations he considers unnecessary burdens.4 His healthcare agenda emphasizes strengthening rural hospitals and clinics, supporting the workforce in underserved areas and expanding telehealth.5 He supports SNAP work requirements and greater state financial responsibility when benefit payment error rates are high.6
Record and controversies
Altered campaign image
In October 2026, KTTC reported that Finstad's campaign ad showed Johnson beside Governor Tim Walz, while Johnson supplied an earlier photograph showing himself beside a business owner.7 Johnson called the image fake, alleged a possible violation of Minnesota's election deepfake law and said his team was considering legal action.7 Finstad called the dispute laughable, said Johnson was concerned about being associated with Walz and said he would not remove the ad.7 His campaign later expressly denied violating any law and said the ad highlighted Walz's endorsement and financial support for Johnson.8 An adjudicated legal violation or a subsequently filed case was not verified in this review.