Jake Johnson Attends Small Business Focused Candidate Forum in Red Wing, Meets with Beth Benike

Red Wing, MN — On Wednesday evening, math teacher Jake Johnson attended the Main Street Alliance’s CD1 Candidate Forum in Red Wing at Twin Bluff Middle School. He spent an hour doing something he’s become very familiar with after 20 years in the classroom and 21 public, in-person town halls: answering unscreened, unfiltered questions from the crowd.

"I love events like this one, because folks deserve someone who will show up and answer to them," said Jake Johnson. "In order to deliver the investments southern Minnesota needs, a representative has to actually listen to the needs of the constituents. I’m glad I got to hear these perspectives yesterday so I can carry them with me to Washington.”

Prior to the forum, Jake met with Beth Benike, 2025 Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year, at John Rich Park. Beth spoke about how she’s reached out to Congressman Finstad multiple times about the impact that tariffs and market uncertainties have had on her small business, but did not receive a response. She said she is supporting Jake this time around, citing the fact that he’s checked in with her multiple times regarding the tariffs, and has committed to going to Washington to bring down the costs of running a small business.

The forum began with questions from Main Street Alliance about issues related to operating small businesses, giving Jake a chance to share his belief that we need to fund the agencies responsible for enforcing antitrust laws, so that they can go after the monopolies squeezing local operations out of business.

Corruption was also a key concern at the forum, with folks frustrated by the amount of money in politics that sway politicians away from the will of the people and towards their corporate donors. Jake also shared how he would make himself accessible to constituents, a point silently emphasized by the fact neither Congressman Finstad nor a member of his staff showed up to the forum. Jake pointed to his pledge to hold a town hall meeting in every single county, every single term that he serves. Congressman Finstad has never held a public, in-person town hall meeting, instead opting for “tele-town halls”, which are neither public nor in-person, and consist of seemingly screened questions selected by staff.

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