Latest Campaign Developments

Jake joined local residents and recent Republican State Senate candidate Teddy Kimble (R) in protest of Google’s proposed data center in Pine Island.

Tonight, Jake held his 17th of 21 town hall meetings in Wabasha, MN, and took questions without requiring any pre-registration of attendees or pre-screening of questions.

Today, Jake Johnson announced his plan for a moratorium on the construction of data centers until key protections and guarantees can be made.

Jake Johnson and State Senate candidate Simon Glaser gathered with over a dozen individuals with backgrounds across farming, medicine, and education.

Tonight, Jake held his 16th of 21 town hall meetings in Courtland, MN, and took questions without requiring any pre-registration of attendees or pre-screening of questions.

Woodley supported Finstad for over two decades, served as the chair of the Brown County GOP, and is voting for multiple Republican candidates in 2026.

Tonight, Jake held his 15th of 21 town hall meetings in New Ulm, MN, and took questions without requiring any pre-registration of attendees or pre-screening of questions.

Tonight, Jake held his 14th of 21 town hall meetings in Red Wing, MN, and took questions without requiring any pre-registration of attendees or pre-screening of questions.

Over 200 people showed up without any pre-registration required, and Jake answered 14 unscreened questions asked about a variety of topics, spanning healthcare, technology, and Social Security.

Today, Jake Johnson announced that he has been endorsed by the National Farmers Union Political Action Committee.

Jake, who has taught high school math for 20 years, told reporters the math isn't adding up for working families.

According to near-final results, 57,871 votes were cast in the DFL primary in MN-01, compared to 56,054 in the Republican primary.

Tonight, public school teacher Jake Johnson won the DFL primary in Minnesota's first congressional district.

Tonight, Jake held his 11th of 21 town hall meetings in Worthington, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Tonight, Jake held his 10th of 21 town hall meetings in Luverne, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

NRDC Action Fund cited Jake’s commitment to lowering energy costs, supporting clean water, and protecting the environment.

In their first joint appearance, Jake Johnson highlighted how he would be a more effective advocate for rural Minnesota in the halls of Congress.

Jake held a town hall meeting in Mankato, MN, where nearly 200 people attended without any pre-registration required. Jake took questions without any pre-screening.

This endorsement comes after Brad Finstad co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would ban nearly all abortions nationwide and threaten access to IVF.

Tonight, Jake held his 8th of 21 town hall meetings in Blue Earth, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Jake held his seventh of 21 town hall meetings in Lanesboro, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Over a dozen small business owners joined Jake in Lanesboro today and shared their perspectives about the state of the economy, closing rural clinics, and the rising cost of living.

Jake's grassroots campaign in MN-01 has received over 32,000 donations — over 93% of which have been $100 or less — without taking a dime from corporate PACs.

Tonight, Jake held his sixth of 21 town hall meetings in Austin, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

For the second day in a row, the federal government announced sweeping new tariffs, this time targeting the generic drugs that make up more than 90% of American prescriptions.

Jake Johnson criticized the latest 50 percent tariff announced against Canada, and called out Brad Finstad for refusing to fulfill Congress’ constitutional duty to set tariffs.

Today, The Guardian profiled Jake Johnson, spotlighting his roots growing up in Stewartville and working hard to get by, to his work as a math teacher serving the next generation of kids.

Tonight, Jake held his fifth of 21 town hall meetings in St. James, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Despite not taking a dime of corporate PAC money, Jake has outraised Finstad by over $100,000 for the second quarter in a row.

Jake held his fourth of 21 town hall meetings in New Richland, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Fiscally responsible former Republican governor endorses Jake Johnson as he campaigns to balance the budget, enact term limits, and restore trust in government.

Jake held his third of 21 town hall meetings in Winona, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Over a dozen farmers and ag leaders joined Wolle and Johnson for a roundtable on ag issues in Watonwan County.

Public school teacher and first-time candidate Jake Johnson raises more in Q2 than Brad Finstad has ever raised in a previous quarter in his entire career as a politician.

The article highlighted Jake’s support for a balanced budget amendment, how he will not vote to raise the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, and his plans to crack down on government waste, fraud, and abuse.

Jake held his second of 21 town hall meetings in Jackson, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Jake Johnson said southern Minnesota families are still paying the price for Finstad's vote last year.

Jake Johnson said that while the proposal includes some vital positive provisions, it still falls short of what southern Minnesota farmers and rural communities need. 

Families are worried about rising costs. Brad Finstad wants to talk about a footnote from 2022.

Brad Finstad said that a closed-door, private roundtable with selected attendees could be called a town hall. Meanwhile, Jake Johnson is hosting 21 real town halls.

Today, Jake held his first of 21 town hall meetings across CD1 in Faribault, MN, and took questions without any pre-screening and without requiring any pre-registration.

Cook Political Report just moved Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District from “Safe Republican” to “Likely Republican".

Ryan: "Jake Johnson is a man of the people who is going to fight for working people."

Jake brought together more than a dozen crop and livestock producers from across southeastern Minnesota to discuss the challenges facing family farms and rural communities.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Minnesota State Council represents over 70,000 workers across the state, including healthcare workers across southern Minnesota.

Jake's 21 town halls — one in each county in the district — is a sharp contrast to Brad Finstad, who refuses to hold a single one.

New inflation data released this morning shows prices rising to 4.2%, the highest level in three years and the third consecutive increase since the start of the Iran War.

Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) took actions to support Minnesota workers and farmers. Brad Finstad did not.

People across southern Minnesota reported getting a phone call Wednesday night inviting them to a telephone town hall with no prior notice.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed Jake Johnson. In the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, Buttigieg won 8 of the 11 counties in Iowa that border MN-01.

The largest trade union of public employees in the United States endorsed Jake Johnson to fight for working families.

Jake Johnson praised the conviction and accountability for Aimee Bock, who led a $242 million scheme to steal from taxpayers and hungry children. Jake also called for more action to be taken.

Jake Johnson officially submitted 5,022 petition signatures to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office to qualify for the ballot — five times the number required under Minnesota law.

The organization is made up of health care professionals and advocates fighting to build a pro-patient health care majority in Congress.

New Dems pride themselves on working across the aisle to expand economic growth and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to earn a good life.

Finstad took $22,500 from Chinese-owned pesticide company, then failed to join 73 members of his own party in holding them accountable for harms.

The rating change comes as Jake’s campaign builds momentum around lowering costs and solving problems for working families.

Jake rejects corporate PAC money, supports a ban on congressional stock trading, and is working to end dark money in politics.

The process leading up to the DFL endorsement in MN-01 saw the highest share of Republican and Independent participation of any congressional district in the state.

Recent reporting highlighted Jake’s bipartisan, problem-solving approach to lowering costs, offering a clear contrast to Finstad's extreme, ideological record in Congress.

Endorsement comes after Brad Finstad co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would ban nearly all abortions nationwide and threaten access to IVF.

Brad Finstad dodged 16 requests for comment from Southern Minnesota’s largest daily newspaper, all while he refuses to hold a single in-person town hall meeting.

Jake hauled in over $470,000 — nearly 40% more than the incumbent — without a single dollar from corporate PACs.

KTTC had the following questions they hoped to ask Representative Finstad, who was not available. In response, Jake Johnson answered the questions instead.

IBEW Local 343 represents more than 1,000 construction electricians across southern Minnesota.

Public school teacher and first-time candidate Jake Johnson has now raised over $1.2 million since launching his campaign in MN-01.

Minnesota farmers and working families are dealing with the fallout as tariffs have driven up costs and caused chaos across Southern Minnesota.

Organization committed to electing more STEM leaders is endorsing math teacher Jake Johnson in MN-01.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will fight to lower energy costs and build a clean energy economy, endorsed Jake Johnson.

]This front page feature highlighted Jake’s story, his recent meet and greet at MSU, and his campaign to make life more affordable across southern Minnesota.

Jake Johnson amplified the concerns he's hearing from farmers about fertilizer being too expensive.

Today, public school teacher Jake Johnson announced that he has raised over $1 million, all without taking a penny from corporations.

Jake Johnson: "We cannot afford another reckless war in the Middle East that risks the lives of more Minnesota service members."

Jake Johnson calls for Congress to act to stop another endless war in the Middle East that puts our service members in harm's way and could cost trillions of dollars.

Jake Johnson criticized the federal government's unserious and harmful approach to pausing Medicaid funding for veterans, kids, and people with disabilities.

Defend The Vote endorsed Jake Johnson for his commitment to cracking down on corruption to make life more affordable.  

Today, Minnesota’s largest labor union, Education Minnesota, endorsed Jake Johnson in its first round of 2026 federal endorsements.

Jake Johnson: "Today's decision is a huge win for southern Minnesota."

Jake Johnson is quoted voicing his support for year-round E15 and criticizing Brad Finstad for continuing to fail to deliver on it.

This afternoon, Jake Johnson was quoted in The Minnesota Star Tribune responding to Rep. Brad Finstad’s vote against a resolution to terminate the tariffs on Canada.

This evening, Representative Brad Finstad voted to keep the tariffs that are making life more expensive in southern Minnesota.

Jake Johnson is just 3 points behind Congressman Brad Finstad, and voters say Finstad does not deserve to be re-elected by a 13-point margin.

As the oldest rail labor union in North America, and as a division of the Teamsters Union, the BLET represents over 1,000 active and retired members across Minnesota.

Today, Jake Johnson expressed his support for Senator Amy Klobuchar in her campaign for Governor of Minnesota.

Jake Johnson officially launched his signature petition drive to secure a place on the ballot for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District this year.

Representative Brad Finstad is gaining national notoriety for following someone else’s marching orders about ICE operations in his home state.

Congressman Brad Finstad has once again failed to deliver year-round E15 for southern Minnesota farmers and ethanol producers.

Jake Johnson: "This latest round of tariffs means that our consumers, farmers, and small businesses will foot the bill for a deeply unpopular and illegal campaign to take over Greenland"

Jake Johnson: “At a time when groceries are already too expensive, it’s outrageous to play politics with SNAP and USDA funding that Minnesota families and farmers depend on."

Jake Johnson issues a statement about Brad Finstad's vote to raise MNSure costs for 10,000+ families in southern Minnesota.

Excerpt from an article in The Free Press about Finstad and Johnson's responses to the shooting and killing of Renee Nicole Good.

Jake Johnson raises $750K in the first three quarters of his campaign without taking a single penny from corporations, which is a stark contrast with his opponent.

Jake Johnson says he strongly disagrees with Brad Finstad's support of the illegal attacks and regime change in Venezuela.

The Rochester Education Association — which represents over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and counselors in Rochester Public Schools — is endorsing Jake Johnson.

Southern Minnesota state representatives Liz Boldon, Luke Frederick, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith endorse Jake Johnson for Congress.

Jake Johnson, a political outsider running for Congress in Minnesota’s first congressional district, has been named as a 2026 Unrig Washington candidate by End Citizens United.

This is NEA’s first Minnesota recommendation of the 2026 cycle, demonstrating just how committed Jake is to students, educators, and working families across southern Minnesota.

Johnson highlights how he would be a bipartisan problem solver, calling for a deal where both sides give up some of their demands in order to end the shutdown and get food to hungry kids.

In net contributions, Jake Johnson for Congress raised over $244,000 in Q3 (with no corporate PAC money), while Finstad for Congress received less than $220,000 in the same period (with a lot of corporate PAC money).

In an op-ed in the Albert Lea Tribune, Jake Johnson lays out his plan to help soybean farmers by stopping the blanket tariffs, passing a farm bill, and listening to the farmers in southern MN.

Jake Johnson, a local math teacher and union leader, announced today that his campaign raised over $240,000 in the third quarter of 2025 — all without taking a penny from corporate PACs.

Benike, founder and CEO of Busy Baby, is a nationally recognized small business leader who grew up in southern Minnesota, served in the U.S. Army, and built her family company from scratch.

In 2024, the grassroots organization Defeat Extremists invested in eight of the nine House seats that flipped from red to blue.

Jake Johnson issues statement on the closure of four clinics in southern Minnesota, following Finstad's vote to gut Medicaid.

Jake Johnson writes an op-ed in The Post-Bulletin about the cuts to Medical Assistance, debunking the claims that Rep. Finstad recently made in the same paper about those cuts.

Jake Johnson announced that he has received the provisional endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

"During a visit to a Goodhue County Farmers Union meeting, the U.S. House candidate said farmers need affordability, not more bureaucracy."

Dan Feehan – veteran, former Pentagon official, former teacher, Mankato resident, and two-time congressional candidate in southern Minnesota – announced that he is endorsing Jake Johnson.

Jake Johnson raised more than any other congressional challenger in Minnesota this past quarter – all without taking a single dollar from corporate PACs.

Jake Johnson, a public school teacher and union leader from southern MN, raised over $260,000 in the first quarter of his campaign, signaling early support from Minnesotans across CD-1.

One month into his campaign, Jake Johnson receives endorsements from five local DFL leaders in the fight against the decisions of Washington politicians.

During Teachers’ Appreciation Week, local education leaders are highlighting how Congressional Candidate Jake Johnson would be a champion for students and educators across southern Minnesota.

Jake Johnson, a public school teacher from southern Minnesota, launched his campaign to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad on Thursday, April 17th. Donors contributed over $100,000 during the course of the first day.

Jake Johnson: “D.C. politicians like Brad Finstad are jacking up our bills while gutting Social Security and Medicaid. I’m excited to hold a town hall in every county in our district to hear how we can make government work for regular people.”