Biography

Brad Finstad, born on May 30, 1976, in New Ulm, Minnesota, is a fourth-generation farmer and politician representing Minnesota's 1st Congressional District as a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on August 9, 2022, following the passing of Representative Jim Hagedorn. Finstad was sworn in on August 12, 2022, and subsequently re-elected for a full term in November 2022.

Finstad and his wife, Jaclyn, whom he met in second grade, reside in the New Ulm area with their seven children. Together, they operate a family farm that has been active for generations.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education with an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development from the University of Minnesota.

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2002, serving three terms until 2009. During his tenure, he held the position of Assistant Minority Leader.
  • Appointed by President Donald Trump as the State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota from 2017 to 2021, focusing on infrastructure improvements, business development, and community services in rural areas.
  • Served as Executive Director of the Center for Rural Policy and Development from 2008 to 2017, a nonprofit policy research organization based in St. Peter, Minnesota.
  • Held the position of Executive Director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association in 2021.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• U.S. House of Representatives:

  • Serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, reflecting his commitment to agricultural and defense issues pertinent to his district.
  • Introduced legislation to honor his predecessor, Jim Hagedorn, including naming a post office in Hagedorn's hometown of Blue Earth and reintroducing a bill to boost technical training for trades programs.
  • Co-sponsored the Parents Bill of Rights Act to ensure parental involvement in education and prevent bureaucratic overreach in local schools.

• Community Involvement:

  • Actively involved in his local community, Finstad emphasizes the importance of rural development, agriculture, and education, aiming to preserve the values and way of life in southern Minnesota.

Finstad's extensive experience in agriculture and rural policy, combined with his dedication to public service, positions him as a committed advocate for the constituents of Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.