Minnesota's 7th Congressional District

Minnesota's 7th Congressional District

Incumbent

Michelle Fischbach

Assumed office: January 3, 2021

Minnesota's 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Michelle Fischbach (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Minnesota representatives represented an average of 713,719 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 664,360 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2024

Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach defeated A. John Peters in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach (R)	70.4	275,098
		A. John Peters (D)	29.4	114,979
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	433

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 390,510
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

A. John Peters advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		A. John Peters	100.0	16,828

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,828
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach defeated Steve Boyd in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach	64.7	30,458
		Steve Boyd	35.3	16,645

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 47,103
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Annette Watson (R)

2022

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach defeated Jill Abahsain and Travis Johnson in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach (R)	66.9	204,766
		Jill Abahsain (D)	27.6	84,455
		Travis Johnson (Legal Marijuana Now Party)	5.4	16,421
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	224

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 305,866
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Jill Abahsain defeated Alycia Gruenhagen in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jill Abahsain	59.0	14,352
		Alycia Gruenhagen	41.0	9,972

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,324
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mark Lindquist (D)
• Reed Olson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach	100.0	59,429

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 59,429
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Annette Watson (R)

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Travis Johnson advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Travis Johnson	100.0	509

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 509
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Michelle Fischbach defeated incumbent Collin Peterson, Slater Johnson, and Rae Hart Anderson in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach (R)	53.4	194,066
		Collin Peterson (D)	39.8	144,840
	Submit photo	Slater Johnson (Legal Marijuana Now Party)	4.9	17,710
	Submit photo	Rae Hart Anderson (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)	1.8	6,499
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	362

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 363,477
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Collin Peterson defeated Alycia Gruenhagen and Stephen Emery in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Collin Peterson	75.6	26,925
		Alycia Gruenhagen	16.7	5,956
		Stephen Emery	7.7	2,734

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,615 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Thaddeus Laugisch (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Michelle Fischbach defeated Dave Hughes, Noel Collis, William Louwagie, and Jayesun Sherman in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Fischbach	58.8	26,359
		Dave Hughes	22.2	9,948
	Submit photo	Noel Collis	15.1	6,747
	Submit photo	William Louwagie	2.2	989
		Jayesun Sherman	1.7	757

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 44,800 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joel Novak (R)

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Rae Hart Anderson defeated Kevin Shores in the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rae Hart Anderson	67.4	215
	Submit photo	Kevin Shores	32.6	104

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 319 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Slater Johnson advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Slater Johnson	100.0	592

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 592 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Collin Peterson defeated Dave Hughes in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Collin Peterson (D)	52.1	146,672
		Dave Hughes (R)	47.8	134,668
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	169

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 281,509 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Incumbent Collin Peterson advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Collin Peterson	100.0	39,990

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,990
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7

Dave Hughes defeated Matt Prosch in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 7 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Hughes	72.6	30,783
	Submit photo	Matt Prosch	27.4	11,616

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,399
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Tim Miller (R)

2016

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Collin Peterson (D) defeated Dave Hughes (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Hughes defeated Amanda Lynn Hinson in the Republican primary on August 9, 2016.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson Incumbent	52.5%	173,589
	Republican	Dave Hughes	47.4%	156,952
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	307
Total Votes				330,848
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dave Hughes	59%	8,769
Amanda Lynn Hinson	41%	6,104
Total Votes		14,873
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

2014

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 7th Congressional District of Minnesota held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Collin Peterson (D) defeated challenger Torrey Westrom (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson Incumbent	54.2%	130,546
	Republican	Torrey Westrom	45.7%	109,955
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	334
Total Votes				240,835
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

General election candidates

• Torrey Westrom
• Collin Peterson - Incumbent a

August 12, 2014, primary results

Democratic Primary

• Collin Peterson - Incumbenta

Republican Primary

• Torrey Westroma

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) listed Collin Peterson's seat as one of seven early targets in the 2014 congressional elections. The seven targets aligned perfectly with the seven most Republican districts held by Democrats, according to FairVote's partisanship index. Peterson's district ranked as the 5th most Republican (45% D).

2012

See also: Minnesota's 7th Congressional District elections, 2012

Incumbent Collin Peterson won re-election to the 7th Congressional District of Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson Incumbent	60.4%	197,791
	Republican	Lee Byberg	34.8%	114,151
	Independence	Adam Steele	4.7%	15,298
	NA	Write-in	0.1%	336
Total Votes				327,576
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" (dead link)

2010
On November 2, 2010, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Lee Byberg (R), Gene Waldorf (I) and Glen Menze (Independence) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	55.2%	133,096
	Republican	Lee Byberg	37.6%	90,652
	Independent	Gene Waldorf	3.9%	9,317
	Independence	Glen Menze	3.3%	7,839
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	193
Total Votes				241,097

2008
On November 4, 2008, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Glen Menze (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	72.2%	227,187
	Republican	Glen Menze	27.7%	87,062
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	431
Total Votes				314,680

2006
On November 7, 2006, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael Barrett (R) and Ken Lucier (T) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	69.7%	179,164
	Republican	Michael Barrett	29%	74,557
	Constitution	Ken Lucier	1.3%	3,303
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	170
Total Votes				257,194

2004
On November 2, 2004, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Sturrock (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	66.1%	207,628
	Republican	David Sturrock	33.8%	106,349
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	280
Total Votes				314,257

2002
On November 5, 2002, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Dan Stevens (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	65.3%	170,234
	Republican	Dan Stevens	34.6%	90,342
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	237
Total Votes				260,813

2000
On November 7, 2000, Collin Peterson (D) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Glen Menze (R) and Owen Sivertson (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Minnesota District 7 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Collin Peterson incumbent	68.7%	185,771
	Republican	Glen Menze	29.3%	79,175
	Constitution	Owen Sivertson	2.1%	5,550
Total Votes				270,496

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Minnesota after the 2020 census

Minnesota enacted new congressional district boundaries on February 15, 2022, when a special judicial redistricting panel issued an order adopting final maps. In its unanimous order, the panel wrote, "To afford counties and municipalities time to complete local redistricting, the statutory deadline for completing congressional and legislative redistricting is '25 weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two.' In this decennium, that date is February 15, 2022. That date has arrived, and the legislature has not yet enacted a congressional redistricting plan. To avoid delaying the electoral process, the panel must now act."

After the panel issued their order, Dave Orrick of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press wrote, "The impacts of the new maps weren’t immediately clear...Since Minnesota averted losing a congressional seat, the state’s eight districts for U.S. House members don’t appear jarringly different from current maps." Briana Bierschbach and Hunter Woodall wrote in the Star Tribune, “Under the new maps, the eighth Congressional district grew larger geographically to accommodate population declines in many rural counties.”Kyle Brown of Saint Paul television station KSTP wrote, “The state’s current balance of four Republican and four Democratic representatives in the U.S. House could be thrown for a loop with a radical shift in geography for the 2nd Congressional District, which by far had the most competitive race in 2020.”

How does redistricting in Minnesota work? In Minnesota, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Minnesota State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.

The Minnesota Constitution requires "that state Senate districts be contiguous, and that Representative districts be nested within Senate districts." State statutes apply contiguity requirements to all congressional and state legislative districts. Furthermore, state statutes stipulate that political subdivisions should not be divided "more than necessary."

Minnesota District 7
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Minnesota District 7
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 7th Congressional District of Minnesota after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Minnesota after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Minnesota State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+18. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 18 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 7th the 44th most Republican district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+19. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 19 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 7th the 46th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 65.7%-32.5%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+19. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 19 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 7th the 46th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 32.5% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 65.7%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Minnesota's 7th Congressional District the 112th most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.19. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.19 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Minnesota
• Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2024
• Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2022
• Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2020
• Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 7

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)