2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election explained

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.^{[1] [2]}

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.^{[3] [4] [5]} 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^[6]

Eliminated in primary

• Matt Benda, agricultural law attorney^[7]
• Jennifer Carnahan, former chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Hagedorn's widow^[8]
• Bob Carney Jr., perennial candidate^[9]
• J. R. Ewing, general manager of a biofuels plant^[10]
• Kevin Kocina, U.S. Marine Corps veteran^{[11] [10]}
• Jeremy Munson, state representative^[12]
• Nels Pierson, state representative^{[13] [14]}
• Roger Ungemach, engineer and business analyst

Withdrawn

• Ken Navitsky, sales executive and former Minnesota State University placekicker^[15] (running for state senate)^[16]

Declined

• Jason Baskin, Austin city councilor^[17]
• Carla Nelson, state senator (running for re-election, endorsed Pierson)^{[18] [19]}
• Julie Rosen, state senator (endorsed Finstad)

Results

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jeff Ettinger, corporate executive and former CEO of Hormel Foods^[21]

Eliminated in primary

• Warren Lee Anderson, retiree of retail
• Sarah Brakebill-Hacke, MPhil candidate at Cambridge University and former business owner in direct voter contact^{[22] [23] [24]}
• Candice Deal-Bartell, founder of Cultivate Mankato, founding board member of CultivateMN, and early childhood education advocate^[25]
• Richard DeVoe, Red Wing bookseller^[26]
• George H. Kalberer, CEO and president of Kalberer Financial Management and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 (Washington)^[24]
• 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^[27]
• James Rainwater, attorney-mediator and arbitrator^[25]

Declined

• Dan Feehan, U.S. Army veteran, former U.S. Department of Defense official, nominee for this district in 2018 and 2020^{[28] [29]}

Results

Legal Marijuana Now primary

Candidate

Nominee

• Richard B. Reisdorf, veteran^{[11] [25]}

Results

Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Haroun McClellan, attorney and contracts manager^[25]

Results

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report[30]		July 19, 2022
align=left	Inside Elections[31]		April 7, 2022
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball[32]		February 23, 2022

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Brad Finstad (R)	Jeff Ettinger (DFL)	Other	Undecided
SurveyUSA[33]	July 26–30, 2022	544 (LV)	± 4.7%		46%	38%	7%	8%
Expedition Strategies (D)[34]	June 6–9, 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%		48%	47%	–	5%

Results

County	Brad Finstad Republican		Jeff Ettinger DFL		Richard Reisdorf LMN		Haroun McClellan G–LC		Margin		Total votes
	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"			data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%
	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
			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
			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

Partisan clients

External links

Official campaign websites

• Jeff Ettinger (DFL) for Congress
• Brad Finstad (R) for Congress

Notes and References

1. News: Congressman Jim Hagedorn Dies: 'He Lived His Dream By Serving Others' . . February 18, 2022 . February 18, 2022.
2. Web site: Oot . Torey Van . 2022-02-19 . Minnesota Rep. Jim Hagedorn dies after cancer battle . 2022-02-19 . Axios. en.
3. Web site: Sec. 204D.29 MN Statutes . 2022-02-18 . www.revisor.mn.gov.
4. Web site: 2022-02-18 . Southern Minnesota voters to decide who will fill vacancy after Rep. Jim Hagedorn's death . 2022-02-19 . Duluth News Tribune . en.
5. Web site: 2022-02-22 . Governor Walz Issues Writ of Special Election to Fill Vacancy in First Congressional District . 2022-02-22 . mn.gov. en.
6. Web site: Karnowski . Steve . May 25, 2022 . Finstad, Ettinger head to special election for Hagedorn seat . May 25, 2022 . . May 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220525210813/https://www.kimt.com/news/minnesota/finstad-ettinger-head-to-special-election-for-hagedorn-seat/article_bb36ed8a-43f1-5e16-b012-d0cbf7cb3b6e.html . dead.
7. Web site: Stultz . Sarah . Longtime Albert Lea attorney running for Congress . www.albertleatribune.com . . March 11, 2022 . March 10, 2022.
8. Web site: O'Neil . Tyler . Jim Hagedorn's widow, Jennifer Carnahan, announces run for his open House seat . Fox News . March 14, 2022 . March 14, 2022.
9. News: Feehan won't run in special congressional election . March 1, 2022. March 3, 2022.
10. Web site: Who's running in Minnesota in 2022: Statewide offices and U.S. House . February 3, 2022 .
11. Web site: March 8, 2022 . Two more file for 1st District congressional seat . March 8, 2022 . The Free Press.
12. News: State rep. Jeremy Munson files paperwork to run for US Congress . KTTC . February 25, 2022 . February 25, 2022.
13. Web site: Croman . John . February 19, 2022 . Special election will decide Hagedorn's replacement . KARE 11.
14. Web site: March 11, 2022 . Nels Pierson announces candidacy to represent 1st Congressional District . March 11, 2022 . KAAL.
15. Web site: Former MSU kicker, monster truck show emcee joins 1st District race. March 3, 2022.
16. Web site: Navitsky suspends campaign for MN CD 1 Special Primary . May 4, 2022 .
17. Web site: Van Oot . Torey . Candidate filing to begin in Minnesota special election for Congress . www.axios.com . . March 4, 2022 . February 28, 2022.
18. News: Ferguson . Dana . State Sen. Carla Nelson won't seek 1st District seat left vacant after Jim Hagedorn death . Duluth News Tribune . February 21, 2022 . February 22, 2022.
19. Web site: Orenstein . Walker . Kaul . Greta . What fundraising and endorsements tell us about the special election in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District . MinnPost . April 23, 2022 . April 18, 2022.
20. https://twitter.com/kirk_bado/status/1516086833557512196?cxt=HHwWiIC9ram8nIoqAAAA National Journal Hotline
21. Web site: Ettinger throwing his hat into 1st District race. March 10, 2022. Austin Daily Herald.
22. Web site: CD1 race adds another potential candidate. February 26, 2022. KEYC.
23. Web site: RCTC Student Senate provides emergency food aid . October 21, 2017 .
24. Web site: March 9, 2022. 3 more file for 1st District election. The Free Press.
25. Web site: Who's running in Minnesota in 2022: Statewide offices and U.S. House. MinnPost. February 3, 2022. March 18, 2022.
26. News: Stolle . Matthew . Special election to serve out Hagedorn's term has its first candidate . Post Bulletin . February 22, 2022 . February 22, 2022.
27. Web site: Richard Painter announces MN-01 candidacy. February 24, 2022. KEYC.
28. Web site: Race to succeed late Rep. Jim Hagedorn begins. February 26, 2022. Star Tribune.
29. Web site: Democrat Dan Feehan opts against First Congressional District run. March 1, 2022. Star Tribune.
30. News: Wasserman . Dave . House Rating Changes: IN-01 and MN-01 Get More Competitive . July 19, 2022 . August 5, 2022 .
31. Web site: Minnesota Redistricting: Land of a Couple Interesting Races. Gonzalez. Nathan L.. The Rothenberg Political Report. April 7, 2022. April 7, 2022.
32. Web site: Kondik. Kyle. Notes on the State of Politics: Feb. 23, 2022. February 23, 2022. February 23, 2022.
33. https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=6a557ea4-bde8-49df-a0f0-9d077812693f SurveyUSA
34. https://www.scribd.com/document/579258412/MN-01-Poll-Results-Memo-Ettinger-Campaign Expedition Strategies (D)