Minnesota's 1st congressional district

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Minnesota's 1st congressional district
Minnesota's 1st congressional district (since 2023).svg
Minnesota's 1st congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area13,322 [1]  sq mi (34,500 km2)
Distribution
  • 62.53% urban [2]
  • 37.47% rural
Population (2023)713,000 [3]
Median household
income
$73,883 [4]
Ethnicity
Cook PVI R+6 [5]

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.

Contents

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. [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's in the district since 2012 and the best showing for a Republican since 2004.

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults [6] [7] [8]
2008 President Obama 51% - 46%
Senate Coleman 43% - 39%
2010 Governor Emmer 45% - 40%
Secretary of State Severson 48% - 45%
Auditor Anderson 52% - 43%
Attorney General Swanson 49% - 43%
2012 President Obama 50% - 48%
Senate Klobuchar 63% - 32%
2014 Senate Franken 50% - 45%
Governor Johnson 48% - 46%
Secretary of State Severson 50% - 42%
Auditor Otto 45.3% - 44.8%
Attorney General Swanson 48% - 43%
2016 President Trump 52% - 39%
2018 Senate (Reg.) Klobuchar 54% - 42%
Senate (Spec.) Housley 48% - 47%
Governor Walz 50% - 47%
Secretary of State Howe 50% - 45%
Auditor Myhra 50% - 43%
Attorney General Wardlow 52% - 42%
2020 President Trump 53% - 44%
Senate Lewis 50% - 42%
2022 Governor Jensen 52% - 45%
Secretary of State Crockett 54% - 46%
Auditor Wilson 55% - 40%
Attorney General Schultz 57% - 43%
2024 President Trump 55% - 43%
Senate Klobuchar 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: [9]

Blue EarthCounty (36)

All 36 townships and municipalities

BrownCounty (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

DodgeCounty (19)

All 19 townships and municipalities

FairbaultCounty (31)

All 31 townships and municipalities

FillmoreCounty (37)

All 37 townships and municipalities

FreebornCounty (34)

All 34 townships and municipalities

GoodhueCounty (31)

All 31 townships and municipalities

HoustonCounty (24)

All 24 townships and municipalities

JacksonCounty (26)

All 26 townships and municipalities

MartinCounty (31)

All 31 townships and municipalities

MowerCounty (34)

All 34 townships and municipalities

NicolletCounty (20)

All 20 townships and municipalities

NoblesCounty (31)

All 31 townships and municipalities

OlmstedCounty (26)

All 26 townships and municipalities

RiceCounty (9)

Cannon City Township, Faribault, Nerstrand, Northfield Township (part; also 2nd), Richland Township, Walcott Township, Warsaw Township, Wells Township, Wheeling Township

RockCounty (20)

All 20 townships and municipalities

SteeleCounty (17)

All 17 townships and municipalities

WabashaCounty (28)

All 28 townships and municipalities

WatonwanCounty (20)

All 20 townships and municipalities

WinonaCounty (32)

All 32 townships and municipalities

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historyDistrict location
District established March 4, 1863
William Windom, Brady-Handy photo portrait, ca1870-1880.jpg
William Windom
(Winona)
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1869
38th
39th
40th
Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Retired.
1863–1873
[ data missing ]
Morton S. Wilkinson - Brady-Handy.jpg
Morton S. Wilkinson
(Mankato)
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
Lost renomination.
Mark Dunnell - Brady-Handy.jpg
Mark H. Dunnell
(Owatonna)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1883
42nd
43rd
44th
45th
46th
47th
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
Milo White (Minnesota Congressman).jpg
Milo White
(Chatfield)
Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Retired.
1883–1893
Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona
ThomasWilson1899.jpg
Thomas Wilson
(Winona)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
50th Elected in 1886.
Lost re-election.
Mark Dunnell - Brady-Handy.jpg
Mark H. Dunnell
(Owatonna)
Republican March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1891
51st Elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.
William Henry Harries (Minnesota Congressman).jpg
William H. Harries
(Caledonia)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52nd Elected in 1890.
Lost re-election.
James Albertus Tawney.jpg
James Albertus Tawney
(Winona)
Republican March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1911
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
60th
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
SydneyAnderson.jpg
Sydney Anderson
(Lanesboro)
Republican March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1925
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
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.
AllenJFurlow.jpg
Allen J. Furlow
(Rochester)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1929
69th
70th
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost renomination.
Victor Christgau (Minnesota Congressman).png
Victor Christgau
(Austin)
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1933
71st
72nd
Elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the at-large district and lost re-election as an independent.
District inactiveMarch 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd All members elected at-large.
AugustAndresen.jpg
August H. Andresen
(Red Wing)
Republican January 3, 1935 –
January 14, 1958
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
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
VacantJanuary 14, 1958 –
February 18, 1958
85th
Al Quie 1977 congressional photo.jpg
Al Quie
(Dennison)
Republican February 18, 1958 –
January 3, 1979
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
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
Arlen Erdahl.jpg
Arlen Erdahl
(West St. Paul)
Republican January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1983
96th
97th
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Lost renomination.
Congressman Timothy Penny.jpg
Tim Penny
(New Richland)
Democratic (DFL) January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1995
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
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, official photo portrait, color.jpg
Gil Gutknecht
(Rochester)
Republican January 3, 1995 –
January 3, 2007
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
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
MN Congressional District 1.gif
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 official photo.jpg
Tim Walz
(Mankato)
Democratic (DFL) January 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2019
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
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
Minnesota US Congressional District 1 (since 2013).tif
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
Jim Hagedorn, official portrait, 116th Congress.jpg
Jim Hagedorn
(Blue Earth)
Republican January 3, 2019 –
February 17, 2022
116th
117th
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Died.
VacantFebruary 17, 2022 –
August 12, 2022
117th
Brad Finstad 117th Congress.jpeg
Brad Finstad
(New Ulm)
Republican August 12, 2022 –
present
117th
118th
119th
Elected to finish Hagedorn's term.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2023–present
Minnesota's 1st congressional district (since 2023).svg
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

Recent election results

Graph of election results in Minnesota's 1st congressional district
2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gil Gutknecht (incumbent) 163,532 61
Democratic (DFL) Steve Andreasen 92,14935
Green Gregory Mikkelson9,9544
2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gil Gutknecht (incumbent) 193,132 60 −1
Democratic (DFL) Leigh Pomeroy 115,08835
Independence Gregory Mikkelson15,5695
2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz 141,622 53
Republican Gil Gutknecht (incumbent)126,48747−13
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz (incumbent) 207,748 62.5 +9.5
Republican Brian J. Davis109,44632.9
Independence Gregory Mikkelson14,9034.5
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz (incumbent) 122,390 49.4 −13.1
Republican Randy Demmer 109,26144.1+11.2
Independence Steven Wilson13,2435.3+0.8
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz (incumbent) 193,211 57.5 +8.1
Republican Allen Quist142,16442.3−1.8
2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz (incumbent) 122,851 54.2 −3.3
Republican Jim Hagedorn 103,53645.7+3.4
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic (DFL) Tim Walz (incumbent) 169,076 50.4 −3.8
Republican Jim Hagedorn 166,52749.6+3.9
2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Hagedorn 146,202 50.1 +0.5
Democratic (DFL) Dan Feehan144,89149.7−0.7
2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Hagedorn (incumbent) 179,234 48.6 −1.5
Democratic (DFL) Dan Feehan167,89045.5−4.2
Grassroots—LC Bill Rood21,4485.8N/A
Write-in 2840.1N/A
2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Brad Finstad 59,788 50.7 +2.1
Democratic (DFL) Jeff Ettinger 55,15546.8+1.3
Legal Marijuana Now Richard Reisdorf1,5361.3N/A
Grassroots—LC Haroun McClellan8650.7−5.1
Write-in 5350.5+0.4
2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Brad Finstad (incumbent) 159,621 53.8 +3.1
Democratic (DFL) Jeff Ettinger 125,45742.3−4.5
Legal Marijuana Now Richard Reisdorf6,3892.1+0.8
Grassroots—LC Brian Abrahamson4,9431.7+1.0
Write-in 1370.1N/A
2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, district 1
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Brad Finstad (incumbent) 220,934 58.51 +4.7
Democratic (DFL) Rachel Bohman156,37541.41−0.9
Write-in 2970.08N/A

See also

References

  1. "Minnesota congressional districts by urban and rural population and land area" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  2. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau Geography. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document.
  3. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. "My Congressional District: Congressional District 1 (118th Congress), Minnesota". United States Census Bureau . Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  6. https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::4b212b88-2b8b-48aa-b2d2-e2f9980ac884
  7. "State & Federal Results in Congressional District 1".
  8. "State & Federal Results in Congressional District 1".
  9. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST27/CD118_MN01.pdf
  10. "Results for All Congressional Districts". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.

43°53′56″N93°42′42″W / 43.89889°N 93.71167°W / 43.89889; -93.71167