Minnesota's 1st Congressional District election, 2026

← 2024
Minnesota's 1st Congressional District
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 2, 2026
Primary: August 11, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Minnesota
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Minnesota's 1st Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th Minnesota elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House raceArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House raceFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House raceOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House raceTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House raceVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House raceSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 1st Congressional District of Minnesota, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1

Incumbent Brad Finstad, Jake Johnson, and Oliver Morlan are running in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Brad Finstad (R)
		Jake Johnson (D)
		Oliver Morlan (Independent)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andy Smith (D)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Oliver Morlan

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a working class Minnesotan, and grew up in a small-business family. I've been involved in grassroots politics since 2016 and am a former registered Republican and primary delegate. While both Republicans and Democrats will put foreign nations, private equity firms and non-citizens above the needs of regular Minnesotans, I advocate for Minnesota first policy. That means no more foreign wars, bloated federal budgets, corporate lobbying, or culture war nonsense."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

Your individual rights are being threatened. Freedom of speech, self defense, and the privacy of all Americans is increasingly under threat by both government and corporate interests. Republicans across multiple states are legislating rules that will ban your expression both on the street and online, while Democrats plan to deprive you of your ability to self defense. It is not up to state governments to regulate the Constitution or the Bill of Rights so I will fight for absolute protections for them. The government shouldn't be peering into every part of your life, regulating what you say, and stealing your right to self-preservation.

---

Too much political discourse is centered around Middle Eastern policy and it is exposing how absolutely depraved our government is. We have spent decades in the Middle East creating wars, funding terrorist organizations, and most Americans are just sick of it. Our politicians have been boughten by lobbyists whose only loyalties are to foreign nations. It is time to cut our losses and end this years-long miserable policy approach that has wasted your tax dollars and sent Americans to their deaths. It is also time to demand our politicians not hold any allegiance to other nations and put their constituents first.

---

By the time of the 2026 election I no doubt believe that the debt of our country will be over $40 trillion. Neither party has put forth real policy solutions to cut back our trillion dollar deficits. The truth is that the damage is irreparable. Whatever we do now will not change the fact that we have dug this hole, but we can navigate our way out of it. This is by making strategic and hard cuts to the budget both discretionary and non-discretionary. We need to reevaluate our approach to military spending and cut down on the military industrial complex. Cutting military spending and foreign aid will not be successful unless we make serious reforms to government benefit programs.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Minnesota

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Your individual rights are being threatened. Freedom of speech, self defense, and the privacy of all Americans is increasingly under threat by both government and corporate interests. Republicans across multiple states are legislating rules that will ban your expression both on the street and online, while Democrats plan to deprive you of your ability to self defense. It is not up to state governments to regulate the Constitution or the Bill of Rights so I will fight for absolute protections for them. The government shouldn't be peering into every part of your life, regulating what you say, and stealing your right to self-preservation.

Too much political discourse is centered around Middle Eastern policy and it is exposing how absolutely depraved our government is. We have spent decades in the Middle East creating wars, funding terrorist organizations, and most Americans are just sick of it. Our politicians have been boughten by lobbyists whose only loyalties are to foreign nations. It is time to cut our losses and end this years-long miserable policy approach that has wasted your tax dollars and sent Americans to their deaths. It is also time to demand our politicians not hold any allegiance to other nations and put their constituents first.

By the time of the 2026 election I no doubt believe that the debt of our country will be over $40 trillion. Neither party has put forth real policy solutions to cut back our trillion dollar deficits. The truth is that the damage is irreparable. Whatever we do now will not change the fact that we have dug this hole, but we can navigate our way out of it. This is by making strategic and hard cuts to the budget both discretionary and non-discretionary. We need to reevaluate our approach to military spending and cut down on the military industrial complex. Cutting military spending and foreign aid will not be successful unless we make serious reforms to government benefit programs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Healthcare is a serious issue that I am passionate about in this nation. Many people in this country suffer from chronic health conditions that not only hinder our healthcare system but also our workforce. More than just spending money on healthcare I believe real solutions rely on setting national initiatives to find root causes to chronic conditions and combat them. This includes following world wide health standards on regulating certain preservatives and additives in food products, and evaluating environmental conditions of drinking water and air quality. This is alongside pushing for more impactful nutrional and physical education in schools to promote healthy lifestyles.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Being honest about your positions, independent of outside allegiances, and following through with what you say even if it's against the odds.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Work tirelessly, represent your constituents and interact with them in open discussion.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

I was one year old when the September 11th attacks happened so I do not remember them from firsthand experience. A big event that I remember from early on was the attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya during the Obama administration. To me it exposed how openly corrupt government officials like Hillary R. Clinton are in their lies to the American people on our foreign policy.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

The family business at D&M Industrial Cleaners, and I still do specialized work for the company.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

It is a cornerstone of our republic. In

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Considering the current state of Congress that is full of career politicians, I don't believe so.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Rebuilding our economy for the working class. Raising wages is not a solution to inflation, it is an irritant that causes more inflammation. The only way to reduce the burden on the working class is to stop government spending that devalues your currency.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

I believe in two term candidacies for Congress, the Senate, and Presidency. That keeps people from being in the same position for too long but also allows politicians to be experienced in office by a second term. We should be more worried about the unelected officials in the federal government who often stay longer than our elected politicians.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

I know veterans who have gave alot in their service to this country

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

No, I believe Americans have made too many compromises with their politicians. Its time to fight for what we need.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Sparingly. The U.S. House should not use their powers to harass political opponents, content creators and average Americans. The House should focus on investigating corporate corruption and corruption of current officials.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

Regulation of criminal activity in the AI- sphere. We must be ready for AI generated content and misinformation that aims to influence judicial and legislative decisions.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Oliver Morlan (Independent)

I would advocate for strict voter ID, mandatory voter roll reviews, increasing accessibility to running for office, and term limits for elected officials.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Brad Finstad
• Jake Johnson

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Brad Finstad	Republican Party	$773,415	$371,591	$463,234	As of September 30, 2025
Jake Johnson	Democratic Party	$510,024	$251,436	$258,588	As of September 30, 2025
Oliver Morlan	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Minnesota's 1st Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	12/9/2025	12/2/2025	11/25/2025	11/18/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Minnesota in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Minnesota, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Minnesota	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	1,000	$300	6/2/2026	Source
Minnesota	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	1,000	N/A	6/2/2026	Source

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

District analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.

See also

Minnesota	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
Minnesota congressional delegation Voting in Minnesota Minnesota elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Minnesota's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Amy Klobuchar (D)

Tina Smith (D)

Representatives

District 1

Brad Finstad (R)

District 2

Angie Craig (D)

District 3

Kelly Morrison (D)

District 4

Betty McCollum (D)

District 5

Ilhan Omar (D)

District 6

Tom Emmer (R)

District 7

Michelle Fischbach (R)

District 8

Pete Stauber (R)

Democratic Party (6)

Republican Party (4)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

Senate by State

Alabama • Alaska • Arkansas • Colorado • Delaware • Florida (special) • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Montana • Nebraska • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • North Carolina • Ohio (special) • Oklahoma • Oregon • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Virginia • West Virginia • Wyoming

---

House by State

Alabama • Alaska • American Samoa • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Northern Mariana Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • U.S. Virgin Islands • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

---

Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Retiring senators • Retiring representatives

---

Super PACs/Organizations

American Bridge 21st Century • American Crossroads • American Unity PAC • Campaign for Primary Accountability • Club for Growth Action • Congressional Leadership Fund • Cooperative of American Physicians IE Committee• Crossroads Generation • Ending Spending Action Fund • Endorse Liberty • Fair Share Action • FreedomWorks for America • Government Integrity Fund • House Majority PAC • Independence USA Fund • League of Conservation Voters • Liberty for All PAC • Majority PAC • National Association of Realtors • NEA Advocacy Fund • Now or Never PAC • Planned Parenthood Votes • Ready for Hillary • Republicans for a Prosperous America • Restore America's Voice PAC • SEIU Pea-Federal • Women Vote!

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams, Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Victoria Edwards • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox