Minnesota's 1st congressional district spans 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 population growth in the Rochester combined statistical area. The district also includes several of Minnesota's major mid-sized cities, such as Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Red Wing, New Ulm, Worthington, and Lake City. It is currently represented by Republican Brad Finstad.
From the state's early years until after the 2000 census, the district encompassed only southeastern Minnesota. Throughout the 20th century, it was generally regarded as solidly Republican, but it became more of a swing district in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. 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 would instead run for governor of Minnesota. On paper, the district leans Republican, with a CPVI of R+6, but some recent elections have been among the closest in the nation, with victories by less than a single percentage point in both 2016 and 2018. 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's in the district since 2012 and the best showing for a Republican since 2004.
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results1993–2003 boundaries 1992 PresidentClinton 39% - 35% - 27% 1996 PresidentClinton 48% - 37% - 15% 2000 PresidentBush 48% - 46%2003–2013 boundaries 2000 PresidentBush 49% - 45% 2004 PresidentBush 51% - 47%2008 PresidentObama 51% - 46% SenateColeman 43% - 39%2010 GovernorEmmer 45% - 40% Secretary of StateSeverson 48% - 45% AuditorAnderson 52% - 43% Attorney GeneralSwanson 49% - 43%2013–2023 boundaries2008 PresidentObama 51% - 47%2012 PresidentObama 50% - 48% SenateKlobuchar 63% - 32%2014 SenateFranken 50% - 45% GovernorJohnson 48% - 46% Secretary of StateSeverson 50% - 42% AuditorOtto 45.3% - 44.8% Attorney GeneralSwanson 48% - 43%2016 PresidentTrump 52% - 39%2018 Senate (Reg.)Klobuchar 54% - 42% Senate (Spec.)Housley 48% - 47% GovernorWalz 50% - 47% Secretary of StateHowe 50% - 45% AuditorMyhra 50% - 43% Attorney GeneralWardlow 52% - 42%2020 PresidentTrump 53% - 44% SenateLewis 50% - 42%2023–2033 boundaries 2020 PresidentTrump 54% - 44%2022 GovernorJensen 52% - 45% Secretary of StateCrockett 54% - 46% AuditorWilson 55% - 40% Attorney GeneralSchultz 57% - 43%2024 PresidentTrump 55% - 43% SenateKlobuchar 49% - 48%
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:
Blue Earth County (36)
All 36 townships and municipalities
Brown County (16)
Albin Township, Cottonwood Township, Eden Township, Essig, Evan, Hanska, Home Township, Lake Hanska Township, Linden Township, Milford Township, New Ulm, Prairieville Township (part; also 7th), Sigel Township, Searles, Sleepy Eye, Stark Township
Dodge County (19)
All 19 townships and municipalities
Fairbault County (31)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Fillmore County (37)
All 37 townships and municipalities
Freeborn County (34)
All 34 townships and municipalities
Goodhue County (31)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Houston County (24)
All 24 townships and municipalities
Jackson County (26)
All 26 townships and municipalities
Martin County (31)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Mower County (34)
All 34 townships and municipalities
Nicollet County (20)
All 20 townships and municipalities
Nobles County (31)
All 31 townships and municipalities
Olmsted County (26)
All 26 townships and municipalities
Rice County (9)
Cannon City Township, Faribault, Nerstrand, Northfield Township (part; also 2nd), Richland Township, Walcott Township, Warsaw Township, Wells Township, Wheeling Township
Rock County (20)
All 20 townships and municipalities
Steele County (17)
All 17 townships and municipalities
Wabasha County (28)
All 28 townships and municipalities
Watonwan County (20)
All 20 townships and municipalities
Winona County (32)
All 32 townships and municipalities
List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District location District established March 4, 1863 William Windom Republican 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 Morton S. Wilkinson Republican 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. 1873–1883Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona Milo White Republican March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Retired. 1883–1893Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Thomas Wilson Democratic March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1889 Elected in 1886.Lost re-election. Mark H. Dunnell Republican March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1888.Lost re-election. William H. Harries Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1890.Lost re-election. James A. Tawney Republican 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. 1893–1933Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Sydney Anderson Republican 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. Allen J. Furlow Republican March 4, 1925 –March 3, 1929 Elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Lost renomination. Victor Christgau Republican 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 March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1935 All members elected at-large. August H. Andresen Republican 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. 1935–1963Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Vacant 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. 1963–1973Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona 1973–1983Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Washington, and Winona; parts of Dakota Arlen Erdahl Republican 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. 1983–1993Blue Earth, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona; parts of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, and Scott 1993–1995Blue 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. 1995–2003Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona; parts of Dakota, Le Sueur, Nicollet, and Scott 2003–2013Blue 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. 2013–2023Blue 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 Jim Hagedorn Republican January 3, 2019 –February 17, 2022 Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Died. Vacant February 17, 2022 –August 12, 2022 Brad Finstad Republican August 12, 2022 –present Elected to finish Hagedorn's term.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–presentBlue 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
Recent election results
2002–2012
2012–2022
2022–present
See also
List of United States congressional districts Minnesota's congressional districts
References