Brad Finstad

Brad Finstad is a Republican politician and fourth-generation farmer who represents Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education with an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development from the University of Minnesota. Finstad's career began with roles at the Minnesota Farm Bureau and as an agricultural policy advisor to former U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy. He later served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Following his tenure in the state legislature, he served as the CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development and worked with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. In 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Finstad as the State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota, a role in which he worked to expand rural broadband and improve infrastructure. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election held on August 9, 2022, to fill the vacancy left by the late Representative Jim Hagedorn. He was subsequently reelected to full terms in November 2022 and 2024. In Congress, he serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he focuses on rural economic issues and support for the agricultural sector.

Finstad's policy positions emphasize agricultural support, fiscal conservatism, and border security. He advocates for strengthening the farm safety net through initiatives like the FARMER Act, which aims to make crop insurance more affordable, and the USDA Express Loan Act to increase capital access for rural producers. He frequently opposes federal regulations that he characterizes as burdensome to family farms, including those related to livestock management. On the economy, Finstad supports tax cuts for small businesses and has voted against major spending legislation, such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, citing the need to address the national debt. His stance on immigration includes support for resuming construction of the southern border wall and increasing enforcement resources to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He has co-sponsored the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for federal voting and supports excluding non-citizens from the census counts used for congressional apportionment. Additionally, Finstad focuses on rural healthcare and veterans' issues, co-sponsoring the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act to improve access to mental health services in rural communities.