| State: | Minnesota |
| District Number: | 1 |
| Image Caption: | Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 |
| Representative: | Brad Finstad |
| Party: | Republican |
| Residence: | New Ulm |
| English Area: | 13,322[1] |
| Metric Area: | 34,504 |
| Distribution Ref: | [2] |
| Percent Urban: | 62.53 |
| Percent Rural: | 37.47 |
| Population: | 714,126[3] |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Median Income: | $73,826[4] |
| Percent White: | 82.4 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 7.2 |
| Percent Black: | 3.8 |
| Percent Asian: | 2.8 |
| Percent More Than One Race: | 3.1 |
| Percent Other Race: | 0.6 |
| Cpvi: | R+7[5] |
Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. It is a primarily rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, though this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in the Rochester combined statistical area. The district is also home to several of Minnesota's major mid-sized cities, including Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Red Wing, New Ulm, Worthington, and Lake City. It is represented by Republican Brad Finstad.
From early statehood until after the 2000 census, the district covered only southeastern Minnesota. During the 20th century, it was generally considered solidly Republican, but it became more of a swing district in the late 20th to early 21st century. In 2004, John Kerry received 47% of the vote in the district. In 2006, Republican Representative Gil Gutknecht lost to Democrat Tim Walz. In March 2017, Walz announced that he would not run for reelection to Congress, and instead would run for governor of Minnesota. On paper, the district leans Republican, with a CPVI of R+7, but some recent elections have been among the closest in the nation, won by less than a single percentage point in both 2016 and 2018.[5] In the 2022 general election, Republican Brad Finstad defeated the Democratic nominee by 11.5 points. His margin of victory was the largest of any candidate in the district since 2012 and the best showing for a Republican since 2004.
| Year | Office | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | President | George W. Bush 49 - Al Gore 45% |
| 2004 | President | George W. Bush 51 - John Kerry 47% |
| 2008 | President | Barack Obama 51 - John McCain 47% |
| 2012 | President | Barack Obama 50 - Mitt Romney 48% |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar 62 - Kurt Bills 32% | |
| 2014 | Governor | Jeff Johnson 48 - Mark Dayton 46% |
| Attorney General | Lori Swanson 48 - Scott Newman 43% | |
| Secretary of State | Dan Severson 50 - Steve Simon 42% | |
| State Auditor | Rebecca Otto 45 - Randy Gilbert 45% | |
| 2016 | President | Donald Trump 53 - Hillary Clinton 38% |
| 2018 | Governor | Tim Walz 50 - Jeff Johnson 47% |
| Attorney General | Doug Wardlow 52 - Keith Ellison 42% | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar 54 - Jim Newberger 42% | |
| Senate (special) | Karin Housley 49 - Tina Smith 46% | |
| Secretary of State | John Howe 50 - Steve Simon 45% | |
| State Auditor | Pam Myhra 50 - Julie Blaha 43% | |
| 2020 | President | Donald Trump 54 - Joe Biden 44% |
| 2022 | Governor | Scott Jensen 52 - Tim Walz 45% |
| Attorney General | Jim Schultz 57 - Keith Ellison 43% | |
| Secretary of State | Kim Crockett 54 - Steve Simon 46% | |
| State Auditor | Ryan Wilson 55 - Julie Blaha 40% |
| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | width=350 | District location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District established March 4, 1863 | ||||||||
| align=left | William Windom | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Retired. | 1863–1873 | ||
| align=left | Morton S. Wilkinson | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | Elected in 1868. Lost renomination. | |||
Mark H. Dunnell | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1883 | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | |||||
| 1873–1883 Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona | ||||||||
| align=left | Milo White | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Retired. | 1883–1893 Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona | ||
| align=left | Thomas Wilson | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | Elected in 1886. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Mark H. Dunnell | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | Elected in 1888. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | William H. Harries | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | James Albertus Tawney | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1911 | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost renomination. | 1893–1933 Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona | ||
| align=left | Sydney Anderson | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1925 | Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Allen J. Furlow | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1929 | Elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Lost renomination. | |||
| align=left | Victor Christgau | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933 | Elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the and lost re-election as an independent. | |||
| District inactive | nowrap | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | All members elected at-large. | |||||
| align=left | August H. Andresen | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1935 – January 14, 1958 | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Died. | 1935–1963 Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona | ||
| Vacant | nowrap | January 14, 1958 – February 18, 1958 | ||||||
Al Quie | Republican | February 18, 1958 – January 3, 1979 | Elected to finish Andresen's term. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for Governor of Minnesota. | |||||
| 1963–1973 Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona | ||||||||
| 1973–1983 Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Washington, and Winona; parts of Dakota | ||||||||
| align=left | Arlen Erdahl | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Lost renomination. | |||
Tim Penny | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995 | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired. | 1983–1993 Blue Earth, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona; parts of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, and Scott | |||||
| 1993–1995 Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona; parts of Dakota and Scott | ||||||||
Gil Gutknecht | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007 | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. | 1995–2003 Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona; parts of Dakota, Le Sueur, Nicollet, and Scott | ||||
| 2003–2013 Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona; parts of Le Sueur | ||||||||
Tim Walz | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019 | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired to run for Governor of Minnesota. | ||||||
| 2013–2023 Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Rock, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona; parts of Cottonwood and Rice | ||||||||
| align=left | Jim Hagedorn | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 2019 – February 17, 2022 | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Died. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | February 17, 2022 – August 12, 2022 | ||||||
Brad Finstad | Republican | August 12, 2022 – present | Elected to finish Hagedorn's term. Re-elected in 2022. | |||||
| 2023–present Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona; parts of Brown and Rice | ||||||||