Republican incumbent Brad Finstad secured the nomination in the Minnesota 1st Congressional District Republican primary held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. He faced challengers Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan. Goetzman had previously challenged Finstad in 2024 but received only 4.26% of the vote compared to Finstad's 90.9%.

The seat has a notable history: before Jim Hagedorn, who passed away on February 17, 2022, after battling kidney cancer and COVID-19 complications, the district was represented by Democrat Tim Walz. Walz left Congress after being elected governor in 2018 and remains governor despite an unsuccessful vice presidential bid alongside then-Vice President Kamala Harris. On January 5, 2026, Walz announced he would not seek reelection.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed GOP fundraising challenges for the 2026 midterm races in an interview on 'America's Newsroom,' commenting on various political developments including Democratic Socialists of America candidates and maritime tensions with Iran.

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