Jake
Johnson
DFL nominee Jake Johnson, a 20-year math teacher, challenges Republican incumbent Brad Finstad in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
- sources
- 21
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 28
Background
Jake Johnson is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) nominee for U.S. House in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Brad Finstad in the November 2026 general election. 1419
Johnson grew up in Stewartville, Minnesota, attended Stewartville High School, and later studied at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with the help of Pell Grants. He spent approximately 20 years as a high-school math teacher in Rochester Public Schools, and also served as his teachers' union's Governmental Relations Coordinator and as a bargaining-team member. 1310
He holds no prior elected public office; his community roles include service on the Minnesota Jump$tart Coalition board and union organizing work. He won the DFL primary on August 11, 2026, and was added to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program in July 2026, signaling national Democratic attention on the race. 193
Johnson's campaign has emphasized fiscal issues, rural economic concerns, and extensive grassroots outreach across the large southern Minnesota district, including multiple town halls. 2912
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic-Farmer-Labor
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Minnesota
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- High-school math teacher (Rochester Public Schools) and DFL nominee for U.S. House, MN-01
- Website
- jakejohnsonforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 9newsOver $2.5 million in outside spending reported in MN-01 race; $600K ad buy targets Johnson
MPR News reported more than $2.5 million in outside spending in the race, much of it opposing Finstad. A group tied to House Majority Whip Tom Emmer placed a $600,000 ad buy critical of Johnson.
Brad Finstad, Jake Johnson debate in 1st Congressional ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsJohnson campaign says it raised more than $3 million beyond Walz's $3,500 PAC donation
Johnson's campaign told Inforum it had raised more than $3 million from sources other than Walz's Small Town PAC donation, pushing back on Finstad's framing in the attack ad.
Challenger accuses Rep. Brad Finstad of using fake photo · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9debateJohnson and Finstad debate on southern Minnesota television
Johnson and Finstad debated on southern Minnesota TV stations. Johnson called Trump's tariffs 'a tax' harming local families and said he would vote to end them. They also clashed over rural health care and immigration.
Brad Finstad, Jake Johnson debate in 1st Congressional ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8newsDemocratic-aligned PAC reported to have spent $1.5 million supporting Johnson since September
The Downballot reported that Your Community PAC had spent $1.5 million since the beginning of September to support Johnson, alongside a House Majority PAC poll showing him at 47% to Finstad's 46%.
The House battleground has moved deep into Trump turf · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsJohnson posts support for no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security
Johnson posted on X that he supported 'no taxes on tips, overtime, and social security,' along with 'more tax cuts for working people.'
Jake Johnson (@JakeJohnsonMN) on X · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26pollIndependent analysis puts Finstad about 4.3 points ahead of Johnson on average
An independent campaign analysis summarized available 2026 polls as showing Finstad approximately 4.3 points ahead of Johnson on average, contrasting with the DCCC's preferred poll.
How Jake Johnson Can Win MN-01 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25pollDCCC touts poll showing Johnson leading Finstad 47% to 46%
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee publicized a House Majority PAC poll showing Johnson narrowly ahead of Finstad 47% to 46% in the MN-01 race.
🚨 NEW POLL: Jake Johnson Leading Brad Finstad · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsMinnesota absentee voting begins, benefiting Johnson's ground operation
Minnesota absentee voting opened on September 18, according to a September 26 campaign analysis of the MN-01 race.
How Jake Johnson Can Win MN-01 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 17endorsementBlue Dog Coalition's political arm endorses Jake Johnson
Roll Call reported that the Blue Dog Coalition's political arm endorsed Johnson in the MN-01 race.
At the Races: AI voted? · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 14newsJohnson releases provocative ad attacking both parties over corruption
In a campaign ad, Johnson criticized both parties for indifference to corruption and attacked incumbent Finstad over campaign contributions and votes related to data centers and agriculture.
Minnesota Democrat Says ‘Both Parties Couldn't Care Less About Corruption' in Provocative New Ad · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 19newsJohnson calls for moratorium on new data-center construction in MN-01
Johnson announced he supported a moratorium on new data-center construction, with conditions including protecting farmland and natural resources, keeping utility bills down, providing local economic benefits, and ending nondisclosure agreements.
Across Minnesota, opposition to data centers is a political ... · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 11filingJake Johnson wins Democratic primary for MN-01 with 81.7% of the vote
Johnson defeated Alex Eaton in the Minnesota Democratic primary, capturing 81.7% of the vote to advance to the November 3 general election against Republican incumbent Brad Finstad.
MN-1 2026 House forecast - FutureBallot · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- NRDC Action Fund organizationAnnounced by the campaign in 2026; no publication date provided in the retrieved entry jakejohnsonforcongress.com
- Woodley officialDescribed by the campaign as Brad Finstad's former campaign chair and a former Brown County GOP chair; no first name given jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Aug 17, 2026
- National Farmers Union Political Action Committee unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Aug 14, 2026
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) unionLargest federal employee union; per union's endorsement announcement afge.org · Aug 10, 2026
- Reproductive Freedom for All organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jul 30, 2026
- Arne Carlson officialFormer Minnesota Republican governor jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jul 16, 2026
- Pat Ryan officialU.S. Representative jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jun 17, 2026
- SEIU Minnesota State Council unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jun 15, 2026
- AFSCME unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jun 3, 2026
- Pete Buttigieg officialFormer U.S. Transportation Secretary jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jun 3, 2026
- Committee to Protect Health Care organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · May 19, 2026
- NewDem Action Fund organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · May 18, 2026
- End Citizens United organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · May 6, 2026
- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) — formal endorsement officialJohnson won the formal DFL endorsing convention endorsement on May 3, 2026 dfl.org · May 3, 2026
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Apr 27, 2026
- IBEW Local 343 unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Apr 15, 2026
- 314 Action Fund organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Apr 2, 2026
- League of Conservation Voters Action Fund organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Mar 31, 2026
- Defend The Vote organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Feb 27, 2026
- Education Minnesota unionUnion's announcement confirms the date and endorsement educationminnesota.org · Feb 25, 2026
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Feb 9, 2026
- Rochester Education Association unionjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Dec 19, 2025
- Liz Boldon, Luke Frederick, Tina Liebling and Andy Smith officialMinnesota state representatives jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Dec 12, 2025
- National Education Association (NEA) organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Nov 21, 2025
- Defeat Extremists organizationjakejohnsonforcongress.com · Sep 30, 2025
- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) officialProvisional endorsement announced August 18, 2025; formal district endorsement won May 3, 2026 dfl.org · Aug 18, 2025
- Dan Feehan officialFormer Democratic congressional candidate in southern Minnesota jakejohnsonforcongress.com · Jul 23, 2025
- Rochester and Byron teachers union leaders unionCampaign announcement describes them collectively rather than naming each leader jakejohnsonforcongress.com · May 7, 2025
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $2.00M
- Spent
- $989K
- Cash on hand
- $1.01M
As of Jul 22, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6MN01190(opens in a new tab)
Sources 21
- [1] Brad Finstad, Jake Johnson debate in 1st Congressional ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Challenger accuses Rep. Brad Finstad of using fake photo(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] The House battleground has moved deep into Trump turf(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] MN-1 2026 House forecast - FutureBallot(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [5] Jake Johnson (@JakeJohnsonMN) on X(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [6] How Jake Johnson Can Win MN-01 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [7] 🚨 NEW POLL: Jake Johnson Leading Brad Finstad(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [8] Across Minnesota, opposition to data centers is a political ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [9] At the Races: AI voted?(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [10] MN-01 Congress candidate holds town hall in Money Creek(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [11] Minnesota Democrat Says ‘Both Parties Couldn't Care Less About Corruption' in Provocative New Ad(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [12] ‘Democracy is the work of talking together’(opens in a new tab) Aug 19, 2026
- [13] Supportive crowd sees Johnson in Rochester town hall event(opens in a new tab) Aug 16, 2026
- [14] CD-1 candidate Jake Johnson hosts town hall in Worthington(opens in a new tab) Aug 11, 2026
- [15] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Minnesota's ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 10, 2026
- [16] DFL Congressional District 1 Holds Endorsing Convention(opens in a new tab) May 3, 2026
- [17] Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Jake Johnson in MN-01(opens in a new tab) Apr 24, 2026
- [18] Jake Johnson to CNBC: “A vote for me is a vote to end tariffs, and it’s a vote to end the war”(opens in a new tab) Mar 19, 2026
- [19] Education Minnesota endorses Johnson, McCollum and Omar for ...(opens in a new tab) Feb 25, 2026
- [20] News(opens in a new tab) Apr 6, 2025
- [21] Jake Johnson — official campaign website(opens in a new tab)