2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election

For broader coverage of this topic, see Minnesota's 1st congressional district.

The 2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election was a special election held on August 9, 2022. The seat became vacant when incumbent Republican representative Jim Hagedorn died on February 17, 2022, from kidney cancer.^[2][3]

2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election

← 2020 August 9, 2022 November 2022 →
Minnesota's 1st congressional district
Turnout	29.5%[1]
Nominee Brad Finstad Jeff Ettinger Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 59,788 55,155 Percentage 50.7% 46.8%
Results by county Results by precinct Finstad:   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Ettinger:   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Tie:   40–50%   50% No votes:
U.S. Representative before election Jim Hagedorn Republican Elected U.S. Representative Brad Finstad Republican

A primary was held on May 24, 2022, with the special election being held eleven weeks later, on August 9, alongside state primaries for other races.^[4][5][6] The special election was won by Republican Brad Finstad by a margin of 3.9%.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brad Finstad, former Minnesota Director of USDA Rural Development and former state representative^[7]

Eliminated in primary

Former Minnesota GOP chair Jennifer Carnahan finished third in the primary.

• Matt Benda, agricultural law attorney^[8]
• Jennifer Carnahan, former chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Hagedorn's widow^[9]
• Bob Carney Jr., perennial candidate^[10]
• J. R. Ewing, general manager of a biofuels plant^[11]
• Kevin Kocina, U.S. Marine Corps veteran^[12][11]
• Jeremy Munson, state representative^[13]
• Nels Pierson, state representative^[14][15]
• Roger Ungemach, engineer and business analyst^[16]

Withdrawn

• Ken Navitsky, sales executive and former Minnesota State University placekicker^[17] (running for state senate)^[18]

Declined

• Jason Baskin, Austin city councilor^[19]
• Carla Nelson, state senator (running for re-election, endorsed Pierson)^[20][21]
• Julie Rosen, state senator (endorsed Finstad)^[14][21]

Endorsements

Jennifer Carnahan

Individuals

• Stanley Hubbard, chairman and chief executive officer of Hubbard Broadcasting (1983–present)^[21]

Brad Finstad

U.S. representatives

• Michelle Fischbach, U.S. representative for Minnesota's 7th congressional district (2021–present) and former lieutenant governor of Minnesota (2018–2019)^[21][22]
• Pete Stauber, U.S. representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present)^[21][22]
• Glenn Thompson, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district (2019–present) and Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district (2009–2019)^[21][23]

State legislators

• Paul Anderson, former state senator for the 44th district (2017–2021)^[24]
• Gary Dahms, state senator for the 16th district (2013–present) and the 21st district (2011–2013)^[21]
• Brian Daniels, state representative for the 24B district (2015–present)^[21]
• Rod Hamilton, state representative for the 22B district (2005–present)^[21]
• John Jasinski, state senator for the 24th district (2017–present)^[21]
• John Petersburg, state representative for the 24A district (2013–present)^[21]
• Julie Rosen, state senator for the 23rd district (2003–present)^[21]
• Marty Seifert, former Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2007–2009) for the 21A district (1997–2011)^[24]
• Paul Torkelson, state representative for the 16B district (2013–present) and the 21B district (2009–2013)^[21]

Individuals

• Bob Ulrich, former chief executive officer and chairman of the Target Corporation (1994–2009)^[21]

Organizations

• Koch Industries PAC^[24]
• Republican Main Street Partnership^[25]

Jeremy Munson

U.S. senators

• Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas (2013–present)^[26]
• Rand Paul, U.S. senator from Kentucky (2011–present)^[27][28]

U.S. representatives

• Michele Bachmann, former U.S. representative for Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2007–2015) and candidate for president of the United States in 2012^[29]
• Jim Jordan, U.S. representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district (2007–present)^{[21][22][28][30][31]}
• Thomas Massie, U.S. representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district (2013–present)^[21][28][30]
• Scott Perry, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district (2013–present)^{[21][22][30][31]}

State legislators

• Susan Akland, state representative for the 19A district (2021–present)^[21]
• Keith Downey, former state representative for the 41A district (2009–2013) and former chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (2013–2017)^[22][31]
• Scott Jensen, former state senator for the 47th district (2017–2021)^[24]
• Tim Miller, state representative for the 17A district (2015–present)^[32]
• Dennis Smith, former state representative for the 34B district (2015–2019)^[24]

Organizations

• FreedomWorks^[33]
• Republican Liberty Caucus^[34]

Nels Pierson

State legislators

• Greg Davids, state representative for the 28B district (2013–present), the 31B district (1993–2013), and the 32B district (1991–1993)^[21]
• Carla Nelson, state senator for the 26th district (2013–present) and the 30th district (2011–2013)^[21]
• David Senjem, state senator for the 25th district (2013–present) and the 29th district (2003–2013); Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate (2011–2013); Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate (2007–2011)^[21]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jennifer Carnahan	Brad Finstad	Jeremy Munson	Other	Undecided
National Journal Hotline[35][A]	April 13–14, 2022	287 (LV)	± 5.7%	37%	9%	20%	14%	20%

Results

Results by county:

  Finstad—70–80%

  Finstad—50–60%

  Finstad—40–50%

  Finstad—<40%

  Munson—40–50%

  Munson—50–60%

  Munson—60–70%

  Benda—40–50%

Republican primary results^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brad Finstad	13,695	38.12
	Republican	Jeremy Munson	13,268	36.93
	Republican	Jennifer Carnahan	2,887	8.04
	Republican	Matt Benda	2,629	7.32
	Republican	Nels Pierson	1,878	5.22
	Republican	Kevin Kocina	960	2.67
	Republican	Bob Carney Jr.	193	0.54
	Republican	Roger Ungemach	151	0.42
	Republican	J. R. Ewing	142	0.40
	Republican	Ken Navitsky	127	0.35
Total votes			35,930	100.00

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jeff Ettinger, corporate executive and former CEO of Hormel Foods^[37]

Eliminated in primary

UMN Law School professor Richard Painter finished third in the primary.

• Warren Lee Anderson, retiree of retail^[38]
• Sarah Brakebill-Hacke, MPhil candidate at Cambridge University and former business owner in direct voter contact^[39][40][16]
• Candice Deal-Bartell, founder of Cultivate Mankato, founding board member of CultivateMN, and early childhood education advocate^[38]
• Richard DeVoe, Red Wing bookseller^[41]
• George H. Kalberer, CEO and president of Kalberer Financial Management and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 (Washington)^[16]
• Richard Painter, University of Minnesota Law School professor, former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018^[42]
• James Rainwater, attorney-mediator and arbitrator^[38]

Declined

• Dan Feehan, U.S. Army veteran, former U.S. Department of Defense official, nominee for this district in 2018 and 2020^[43][44]

Endorsements

Jeff Ettinger

State legislators

• Kathy Brynaert, former state representative for the 19B district (2013–2015) and the 23B district (2007–2013)^[21]
• Jack Considine, former state representative for the 19B district (2015–2021)^[21]
• Gene Pelowski, state representative for the 28A district (2013–present), the 31A district (2003–2013), the 32A district (1993–2003), and the 34B district (1987–1993)^[21]
• Jeanne Poppe, former state representative for the 27B district (2005–2021)^[21]
• Dan Sparks, former state senator for the 27th district (2003–2021)^[21]

Local officials

• Pat Baustian, mayor of Luverne (2010–present)^[21]
• Mike Kuhle, mayor of Worthington (2015–present)^[21]
• Tom Stiehm, former mayor of Austin (2007–2021)^[21]

Organizations

• Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party^[45]

Richard Painter

U.S. representatives

• Jamie Raskin, U.S. representative from Maryland's 8th congressional district (2017–present)^[46]

Results

Results by county:

  Ettinger—>90%

  Ettinger—70–80%

  Ettinger—60–70%

  Ettinger—50–60%

  Ettinger—40–50%

Democratic (DFL) primary results^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Jeff Ettinger	12,130	64.44
	Democratic (DFL)	Sarah Brakebill-Hacke	2,492	13.24
	Democratic (DFL)	Richard Painter	1,718	9.13
	Democratic (DFL)	Candice Deal-Bartell	1,158	6.15
	Democratic (DFL)	James Rainwater	446	2.37
	Democratic (DFL)	Richard DeVoe	379	2.01
	Democratic (DFL)	Warren Anderson	363	1.93
	Democratic (DFL)	George Kalberer	137	0.73
Total votes			18,823	100.00

Legal Marijuana Now primary

Candidate

Nominee

• Richard B. Reisdorf, veteran^[12][38]

Results

Legal Marijuana Now primary results^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Legal Marijuana Now	Richard B. Reisdorf	363	100.00
Total votes			363	100.00

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Haroun McClellan, attorney and contracts manager^[38]

Results

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis primary results^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Grassroots—LC	Haroun McClellan	194	100.00
Total votes			194	100.00

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[47]	Likely R	July 19, 2022
Inside Elections[48]	Solid R	April 7, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[49]	Safe R	February 23, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Brad Finstad (R)

Organizations

• Tea Party Express^[50]

Jeff Ettinger (DFL)

State officials

• Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present) and former U.S. representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–2019)^[51]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Brad Finstad (R)	Jeff Ettinger (DFL)	Other	Undecided
SurveyUSA[52]	July 26–30, 2022	544 (LV)	± 4.7%	46%	38%	7%	8%
Expedition Strategies (D)[53][B]	June 6–9, 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	48%	47%	–	5%

Results

2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Brad Finstad	59,788	50.71%	+2.12%
	Democratic (DFL)	Jeff Ettinger	55,155	46.78%	+1.26%
	Legal Marijuana Now	Richard Reisdorf	1,536	1.30%	N/A
	Grassroots—LC	Haroun McClellan	865	0.73%	−5.08%
	Write-in		548	0.46%	+0.40%
Total votes			117,892	100.0%
	Republican hold

By county

County Brad Finstad Republican Jeff Ettinger DFL Richard Reisdorf LMN Haroun McClellan G–LC Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % # % Blue Earth 4,284 42.68 5,501 54.81 167 1.66 85 0.85 −1,217 −12.13 10,037 Brown 3,692 69.09 1,579 29.55 48 0.90 25 0.47 2,113 39.54 5,344 Cottonwood (part) 322 79.90 75 18.61 5 1.24 1 0.25 247 61.29 403 Dodge 2,011 62.88 1,138 35.58 27 0.84 22 0.69 873 27.30 3,198 Faribault 1,455 65.99 718 32.56 19 0.86 13 0.59 737 33.42 2,205 Fillmore 2,537 55.31 1,972 42.99 41 0.89 37 0.81 565 12.32 4,587 Freeborn 3,746 57.19 2,615 39.92 123 1.88 66 1.01 1,131 17.27 6,550 Houston 1,749 54.06 1,427 44.11 36 1.11 23 0.71 322 9.95 3,235 Jackson 1,117 69.38 466 28.94 21 1.30 6 0.37 651 40.43 1,610 Le Sueur 2,929 60.29 1,760 36.23 112 2.31 57 1.17 1,169 24.06 4,858 Martin 2,143 69.24 897 28.98 30 0.97 25 0.81 1,246 40.26 3,095 Mower 2,837 42.46 3,731 55.84 63 0.94 51 0.76 −894 −13.38 6,682 Nicollet 2,995 46.01 3,356 51.55 99 1.52 60 0.92 −361 −5.55 6,510 Nobles 1,377 70.04 547 27.82 25 1.27 17 0.86 830 42.22 1,966 Olmsted 13,550 40.53 19,287 57.70 389 1.16 203 0.61 −5,737 −17.16 33,429 Rice (part) 3,150 59.50 1,967 37.16 112 2.12 65 1.23 1,138 21.50 5,294 Rock 960 67.23 452 31.65 9 0.63 7 0.49 508 35.57 1,428 Steele 3,104 56.98 2,251 41.32 60 1.10 33 0.61 853 15.66 5,448 Waseca 1,771 62.89 995 35.33 35 1.24 15 0.53 776 27.56 2,816 Watonwan 1,255 66.51 602 31.90 19 1.01 11 0.58 653 34.61 1,887 Winona 3,308 44.30 4,005 53.64 109 1.46 45 0.60 −697 −9.33 7,467 Totals 60,292 51.07 55,341 46.88 1,549 1.31 867 0.73 4,951 4.19 118,049

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by Carnahan's campaign
2. This poll was sponsored by Ettinger's campaign