Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. It is a primarily rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, though this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in the Rochester combined statistical area. The district is also home to several of Minnesota's major mid-sized cities, including Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Owatonna, Albert Lea, New Ulm, and Worthington. It was represented by Republican Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth from 2019 until his death on February 17, 2022.[6]
From early statehood until after the 2000 census, the district covered only southeast Minnesota. During the 20th century it was generally considered solidly Republican, but it became more of a swing district in the late 20th to early 21st century. In 2004, John Kerry received 47% of the vote in the district. In 2006, Republican Representative Gil Gutknecht lost to Democrat Tim Walz. In March 2017, Walz announced that he would not run for reelection to Congress and instead would run for governor of Minnesota. On paper, the district leans Republican with a CPVI of R+8, but recent elections have been among the closest in the nation, won by less than a single percentage point in both 2016 and 2018.[5]
^Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)