Brad Finstad

Brad Finstad is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he has been in office since 2022, following his election to complete the term of the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn. Finstad has a background in agriculture and rural policy, having previously held various positions in both state and federal government, including serving as the Minnesota state director of USDA Rural Development under President Donald Trump.

Early life and career

Brad Finstad was born on May 30, 1976, in New Ulm, Minnesota. He is a fourth-generation resident of the region, having grown up on his family's farm in Brown County, Minnesota. This agricultural background has significantly influenced his career and political focus. Finstad pursued higher education at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education.

Following his graduation, Finstad began his professional career in the agricultural sector. He initially joined the human resources department of Christensen Family Farms, a prominent agricultural company in Brown County. His early involvement in agriculture led him to a brief role as an area director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, where he worked on issues relevant to farmers and rural communities. Subsequently, he transitioned to a position as an agricultural policy advisor for Congressman Mark Kennedy, which provided him with valuable experience in legislative processes and policy development.

Finstad's political career began in earnest when he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2002. He officially took office in 2003 and served three consecutive terms until 2009. During his tenure in the Minnesota legislature, he held the position of assistant minority leader and was actively involved in various committees, including the Rural Health Advisory Committee under Governor Tim Pawlenty. After leaving the House, Finstad became the CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, a nonprofit organization focused on policy research for rural communities, a role he maintained from 2008 to 2017.

In 2017, Finstad was appointed by President Donald Trump as the Minnesota state director of USDA Rural Development, where he worked until shortly after Trump left office in 2021. Following his federal service, he took on the role of interim executive director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association before announcing his candidacy for Congress in 2022.

House tenure

Finstad's congressional career began with a special election held in 2022 to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Congressman Jim Hagedorn. He announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination and successfully won the primary election on May 24, 2022, defeating several opponents, including state representative Jeremy Munson. Finstad garnered approximately 38.1% of the vote in a competitive primary.

In the subsequent special election held in August 2022, Finstad faced Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee Jeff Ettinger, a first-time candidate and former CEO of Hormel. Finstad won the election by a margin of around four percentage points, marking the beginning of his term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was sworn in on August 12, 2022, by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Finstad continued to build on his electoral success by winning a second primary against Munson later in 2022, followed by a general election victory on November 8, 2022, where he again faced Ettinger. This time, Finstad secured approximately 53.9% of the vote, reinforcing his position as the representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district. He was subsequently re-elected for a third term in the general election held on November 5, 2024, defeating Rachel Bohman with 58.5% of the vote.

Legislative focus and committees

During his time in the U.S. House, Finstad has been involved in various legislative activities and committee assignments that reflect his interests and expertise, particularly in agriculture and rural development. He is a member of several caucuses, including the Republican Main Street Partnership, the Congressional Western Caucus, the Republican Study Committee, and the Congressional Biofuels Caucus.

Finstad serves on multiple committees, including the Committee on Agriculture, where he is involved in subcommittees focused on conservation, research, biotechnology, and nutrition. He holds the position of chairman on the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, which allows him to influence policies related to food security and agricultural practices. Additionally, he is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, where he participates in discussions related to military personnel and readiness, as well as the Committee on Small Business, where he addresses issues affecting small enterprises and rural development.

His voting record includes notable positions such as opposing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and voting against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. He has also expressed support for providing assistance to Israel following conflicts in the region. In November 2023, Finstad was among the Republicans who voted in favor of an amendment to prohibit funding for the Office of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Finstad's legislative focus and committee work are informed by his background in agriculture and rural policy, reflecting his commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of his constituents in southern Minnesota. His career trajectory illustrates a blend of agricultural expertise and political service, positioning him as a prominent figure in discussions surrounding rural development and agricultural policy in the U.S. House of Representatives.