Brad Finstad

Brad Finstad
Born	Bradley Howard Finstad 30 5, 1976
Birthplace	New Ulm, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, farmer
Known for	U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district
Education	University of Minnesota (BS)
Spouse(s)	Jaclyn Finstad
Children	7
Website	[https://finstad.house.gov/ Official site]

Bradley Howard Finstad (born May 30, 1976) is an American politician and farmer serving as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Finstad represents a large swath of southern Minnesota along the state's border with Iowa. Before entering Congress, Finstad built a career that moved between agriculture and public service — he worked as an area director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, served as an agricultural policy advisor to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy, and was elected to three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 21B from 2003 to 2009. In 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Finstad as the USDA Rural Development state director for Minnesota, a position he held until shortly after Trump left office in 2021. Finstad won a 2022 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Representative Jim Hagedorn and has continued to serve the district since.

Early Life

Brad Finstad was born on May 30, 1976, in New Ulm, a city in Brown County in the southern part of Minnesota. The region is historically agricultural, and Finstad grew up connected to farming. He would later operate a family farm, an enterprise he has maintained alongside his career in politics and government service.

Finstad's background in rural Minnesota shaped his political orientation toward agricultural issues and rural development, themes that would define much of his subsequent career in both state and federal government. His roots in the farming community of southern Minnesota provided a foundation for his later roles as a farm bureau official, an agricultural policy advisor, and ultimately a congressional representative for a predominantly rural district.

Education

Finstad attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His education at the state's flagship public university preceded his entry into agricultural advocacy and public service.

Career

Early Career in Agriculture and Policy

Before entering elected office, Finstad worked in agricultural advocacy and policy. He served as an area director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, one of the state's principal agricultural interest organizations. In this capacity, he worked on issues affecting farmers and rural communities across Minnesota.

Finstad also served as an agricultural policy advisor to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy, a Republican who represented Minnesota's 2nd congressional district and later Minnesota's 6th congressional district from 2001 to 2007. This role gave Finstad experience in federal policymaking related to agriculture and rural affairs, and provided an introduction to the workings of the U.S. Congress.

Minnesota House of Representatives (2003–2009)

In 2002, Finstad was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 21B. He succeeded Richard Mulder in the seat. Finstad served three consecutive terms in the Minnesota House, from January 7, 2003, to January 5, 2009.

During his time in the state legislature, Finstad focused on issues relevant to his rural southern Minnesota constituency. In 2006, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Finstad to serve in an advisory capacity related to state policy, reflecting his growing profile within the state Republican Party.

After three terms, Finstad left the Minnesota House in 2009. He was succeeded by Paul Torkelson in District 21B.

USDA Rural Development State Director (2017–2021)

In 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Finstad to serve as the state director of USDA Rural Development for Minnesota. The USDA Rural Development agency administers programs aimed at improving the economy and quality of life in rural areas, including housing, business development, and infrastructure programs. As state director, Finstad oversaw the implementation of these federal programs throughout Minnesota's rural communities.

Finstad served in the USDA position throughout the remainder of the Trump administration, departing shortly after Trump left office in January 2021. His tenure at USDA Rural Development reinforced his credentials as a figure focused on rural and agricultural policy, and it maintained his connections to the federal government and the Republican Party's policy apparatus.

Minnesota Turkey Growers Association

Following his departure from the USDA, Finstad briefly served as interim executive director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, further maintaining his involvement in the state's agricultural sector.

2022 Special Election and General Election

On February 17, 2022, U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn, who had represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district since 2019, died of kidney cancer. His death triggered a special election to fill the remainder of his term, as well as a regular election for the full term beginning in January 2023.

In March 2022, Finstad announced his candidacy for the seat, entering a crowded field of Republican candidates. His campaign emphasized his agricultural background, experience in the state legislature, and service in the Trump administration. Multiple candidates from both parties joined the race for the special election and the regular November general election.

Finstad won the Republican special election primary, securing the party's nomination to compete in the special election. He went on to win the special election held on August 9, 2022, defeating DFL candidate Jeff Ettinger, the former chief executive of Hormel Foods.

The race attracted national attention as one of several closely watched special elections during the 2022 midterm election cycle. The Associated Press reported on the competitive nature of the contest in the traditionally Republican-leaning district.

Finstad was sworn into office on August 12, 2022, filling the remainder of Hagedorn's term. His swearing-in took place on a day described as contentious in Congress, as it coincided with other significant legislative activity.

In the November 2022 general election, Finstad again faced Ettinger and won the full two-year term representing the 1st congressional district, which covers a large section of southern Minnesota including cities such as Rochester, Mankato, Austin, and Albert Lea.

U.S. House of Representatives

Since taking office, Finstad has served as the representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district, succeeding the late Jim Hagedorn.

Finstad's legislative work has reflected the agricultural and rural character of his district. In February 2026, Finstad co-launched the bipartisan Congressional Soils Caucus alongside Representative Jim Costa (D-CA-21). The caucus was established to focus on soil health policy, an issue of significance to agricultural communities.

Finstad has also engaged with law enforcement issues in his district. In February 2026, he announced that Rochester Chief of Police Jim Franklin would attend the 2026 State of the Union address as his guest. In making the announcement, Finstad highlighted his support for law enforcement in the district.

Immigration enforcement has been a notable topic during Finstad's tenure. In January 2026, he addressed ICE operations and fraud investigations in Minnesota during a televised interview with KTTC. In February 2026, Minnesota clergy members met with Finstad's staff to discuss concerns about the impact of ICE enforcement actions on local communities. Also in February 2026, activists organized a gathering outside Finstad's Rochester office related to policy concerns.

Finstad's campaign and congressional activities are documented through federal election filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Personal Life

Finstad and his wife, Jaclyn, have seven children. The family resides in southern Minnesota, where Finstad operates a family farm in addition to his congressional duties. His farming background has been a consistent element of his public identity throughout his career in both state and federal government.

Finstad's identity as a farmer has informed much of his political career. He has maintained agricultural operations while serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives, at the USDA, and in Congress, positioning himself as a representative who maintains direct ties to the rural economy of southern Minnesota.

Recognition

Finstad's election to Congress in the 2022 special election received significant media coverage as one of several competitive races during the midterm election cycle. His victory was covered by national outlets including the Associated Press, The New York Times, the Star Tribune, Roll Call, and MinnPost.

His appearances on C-SPAN have been documented as part of the public record of his congressional service.

The launch of the bipartisan Congressional Soils Caucus in 2026, which Finstad co-chairs with Representative Jim Costa, represented a notable bipartisan initiative focused on agricultural conservation policy.