Fischbach wins re-election bid in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District

Rep. Michelle Fischbach easily won her re-election bid to serve a second term in Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District seat.

Fischbach, 57, is in her first term in the sprawling western Minnesota district, which favored Trump over Biden by a nearly 2-1 margin in 2020 and has grown more favorable for Republicans since redistricting.

Challenging her were DFLer Jill Abahsain and Legal Marijuana Now candidate Travis "Bull" Johnson.

Before being elected to Congress, Fischbach spent more than 20 years in the Minnesota Senate. She was the chamber's first female president and also served a brief stint as Minnesota's 49th lieutenant governor. Two years ago, Fischbach ousted Blue Dog Democrat Collin Peterson, who had represented the district for three decades.

Fischbach has said her priorities include curbing spending and inflation, protecting crop insurance for farmers and securing funding for rural broadband and housing. Fischbach has also long been a staunch opponent of abortion; she co-chairs the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and her husband, Scott, is executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

Abahsain, 68, is a former educator who taught abroad for nearly 20 years before moving to Sauk Centre. Johnson, 52, is a retired veteran who now runs a small livestock farm near Crookston.

This election marked the first time Johnson and Abahsain ran for federal office. Two years ago, Johnson ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner and Abahsain lost to Torrey Westrom for a Minnesota Senate seat.