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<h4>During Teachers’ Appreciation Week, local education leaders are highlighting how Congressional Candidate Jake Johnson would be a champion for students and educators across southern Minnesota.</h4>SOUTHERN MINN. — Today, the President of the Rochester Education Association and prominent members of teachers’ unions across Rochester and Byron endorsed Jake Johnson, candidate for Minnesota’s first congressional district. This comes in the wake of proposed cuts to federal K-12 funding, and steps to eliminate the Department of Education supported by Congressman Brad Finstad. “I’m supporting Jake because he is honest and has integrity,” said Vince Wagner, President of the Rochester Education Association, the union for more than 1,000 employees of Rochester Public Schools. “Jake’s work for Union members is relentless. He serves our members without rest, prioritizing their well-being.” “I have known Jake Johnson for several years, as one of our school district’s hardest workers, one of our union’s most tireless advocates, and as one of my own child’s best teachers,” said Simon Glaser, Vice President of the Rochester Education Association and Candidate for Minnesota Senate District 24. “He represents the best of Southern Minnesota, and he is exactly who we need right now to win Congressional District 1.”&nbsp; “I am proud to support Jake Johnson for US Congress in Minnesota's 1st District. I am excited to support a fellow educator who has spent nearly two decades shaping young minds and is determined to advocate for policies that prioritize students, teachers, and working families over corporate interests,” said Justin Blom, member of Byron Education Association and Byron City Council Member. “Jake Johnson will be a powerful voice for common sense solutions and real change in Washington, and his experiences will make him a strong candidate to represent the diverse needs of southern Minnesota.”Jake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester.Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys.###

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Jake grew up in Stewartville with ten siblings, as the son of a garbage man and a meter reader. Jake worked hard to make it into the middle class, supported along the way by his church community, public programs, and great teachers, which inspired him to become a teacher. For the past 20 years, Jake has taught high school math in Rochester, helping students solve tough problems and discover what they’re capable of. He has also navigated complex budget debates as a Government Relations Coordinator, and has increased financial literacy among kids on the board of the Minnesota Jump$tart Coalition.Jake and his wife Molly, who works as a paraprofessional, are now raising four boys in Southern Minnesota. They feel the rising cost of groceries, utilities, and healthcare just like so many other families, and Jake knows that it stands in the way of his kids and his students being able to achieve their full potential. That's why Jake is running for Congress to make life more affordable, so that the next generation has the same shot at the American Dream that he did.Learn more <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="/meet-jake">about Jake</a> and <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="/priorities">his priorities</a>, and sign up to <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jjfc-website-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">donate</a> or <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="https://www.volunteer.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">volunteer</a>!

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<h2>DONATE TO JAKE JOHNSON For Congress</h2><ul><li>Click <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jjfc-website-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to visit our ActBlue page, where you can securely make a donation via Credit Card, PayPal, Google Pay, or Venmo; OR</li><li>Write a check addressed to Jake Johnson for Congress and mail it to Jake Johnson for Congress, PO Box 6295, Rochester, MN 55903. </li></ul>

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Bringing down costs. Taking on corruption. Investing in our small towns.

Solving Problems for Southern Minnesota

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May 7, 2025

Rochester &amp; Byron Teachers Union Leaders Endorse Jake Johnson

Jake attended Stewartville High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and was just good enough to catch the eye of his future wife, Molly. He mowed lawns and received Pell Grants to be able to afford college at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, just across the river from home.After graduating, Jake and Molly got married and started building their life together. Jake got the first job he applied for: teaching math in Rochester Public Schools. Jake was excited to help others just like his teachers had helped him.

<h3>I'm focused on bringing down costs, taking on corruption, and investing in our small towns.</h3>I grew up as a poor kid in a small town in Southern Minnesota, and I made it to the middle class because I worked hard and people invested in me. Today, my wife and I are raising four boys on the salaries of a teacher and a paraprofessional, and we know just how expensive groceries, utilities, and healthcare are these days. As I’ve traveled across our congressional district, I’ve met families losing their local clinics, small business owners closing their doors, and farmers being squeezed by tariffs and rising input costs. I worry that my kids and my students won’t be able to make it in this economy, even if they work hard and play by the rules.Life shouldn’t be this expensive, and it doesn’t have to be. There is so much our government could do to make life cheaper and easier. But when career politicians are bankrolled by billionaires and big corporations, they become defenders of the broken status quo, helping the wealthy and well-connected at our expense. When only 2% of Congress comes from the working class, it’s no wonder that Washington keeps leaving communities like ours behind.&nbsp;I’m running for Congress to change this, so that we can finally start building an economy that works for all of us. Here’s what that looks like:<ul><li>Bringing down costs: I’ll vote to end the massive tariffs driving up prices and shutting down export markets. I’ll take on the corporate monopolies that are raising costs for consumers and producers, and keeping wages low for workers. I’ll cut red tape so we can quickly build new homes and expand childcare options. And I will support tax cuts for working families and small businesses, paid for by raising taxes and closing loopholes for the super wealthy.</li><li>Taking on corruption: I won’t take a dime of corporate PAC money, so I’ll always answer to you. I will vote to ban members of Congress from trading stocks and from becoming lobbyists. I’ll support constitutional amendments to establish term limits, to ban pardons for family and donors, and to require a balanced budget. Perhaps most importantly, I will always stand up to corruption in government no matter which party or politician is responsible for it.</li><li>Investing in our small towns: Our small towns need actual investments, not excessive regulations. That means finally passing a bipartisan farm bill, ensuring farmers have the right to repair their own equipment, and extending tax credits for health insurance. It also means protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans benefits, and undoing the recent cuts to Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and SNAP. Finally, it includes investing in clean water, special education, and medical research and ag innovation that creates new jobs here in Minnesota, not in China.</li></ul>Regardless of whether you vote for me or not, I believe we all deserve a representative who actually shows up. That’s why I’ll hold 21 in-person town hall meetings (one in each of our congressional district’s 21 counties) before the election. And if I’m elected, I’ll hold another 21 town hall meetings during my term in Congress. I’ll also make constituent services a top priority. You’ll never have to play hide and seek to find me.I’m ready to rebuild the American Dream. I hope you’ll join me in that effort.- Jake Johnson

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End the massive tariffs and fight the corporate monopolies.

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Support term limits and refuse money from corporate PACs.

Take on corruption

Finally pass a bipartisan farm bill and fund rural healthcare.

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Hold 21 in-person town hall meetings —&nbsp;one in each county of the First Congressional District.

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May 16, 2025

Local Leaders Endorse Jake Johnson

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<h4>FIRST TIME CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SHATTERS END OF QUARTER FUNDRAISING RECORDS IN THE DISTRICT</h4>Jake Johnson, a public school teacher and union leader from southern MN, raised over $260,000 in the first quarter of his campaign, signaling early support from Minnesotans across CD-1.&nbsp; ROCHESTER, Minn. – Since his April 17th launch, Jake Johnson, CD-1 congressional candidate, raised over $260,000 by the FEC end of quarter deadline on June 30th. This amount raised sets a new record for a first time candidate’s first quarter in the race for this seat. “A quarter of a million dollars is not something I take lightly having been on a public school staff payroll for the past two decades. This kind of money sets our campaign up for success by giving our volunteers and staff the resources they need to put our campaign on the map almost a year and a half before election day,” said Jake Johnson. “We had donors from all 21 counties in our district, and folks on average were chipping in less than $50. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed, especially those going through tough times who believe in our campaign enough to make this kind of sacrifice. We will never stop fighting for you.”&nbsp; In addition to donors from every county in the district, the campaign saw donations from over 4,500 unique donors, and over 5,300 total donations. More than 95% of donations were $100 or less, signaling strong grassroots support. The campaign took no money from corporate PACs and intends to keep it that way. ###

Here's why I'm running for Congress, and what I've heard from people across Southern Minnesota so far.

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<h4>Jake Johnson, a public school teacher from southern Minnesota, launched his campaign to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad on Thursday, April 17th. Donors contributed over $100,000 during the course of the first day.&nbsp;</h4>ROCHESTER, Minn. – On Thursday, Jake Johnson launched his campaign for Congress to earn the trust and votes of residents across southern Minnesota. Within a day, the campaign raised over $100,000, demonstrating the significant grassroots support behind his candidacy.“People were chipping in anywhere from the cost of a cup of coffee, to a month of rent. Especially when money is so tight for so many, these contributions show that people are deeply frustrated by what they’re getting with Finstad in office, and are seeing something special happening with our campaign,” Jake Johnson said. “This is just day one – we have a long way to go. But the message is loud and clear: the people of southern Minnesota want a change, and we’re going to get that, together.”&nbsp;Additionally, Jake Johnson hosted his first campaign event last night: a meet and greet in Fairmont. He plans to hold a town hall in every county of Minnesota’s first district.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/ad210f99-a378-4cf8-8f1f-ed7a201e874c/ad210f99-a378-4cf8-8f1f-ed7a201e874c.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1872%2C1400&amp;w=1500" alt="Jake Johnson speaking with over 30 constituents in Fairmont on launch day." caption="Jake Johnson speaking to constituents in Fairmont on launch day." align="middle" alignwidth="35" variant="framed">Jake Johnson speaking to constituents in Fairmont on launch day.Jake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester.Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys.###

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Outside of the classroom, Jake has navigated complex policy and budget debates as the Governmental Relations Coordinator and a bargaining team member for his union. His work helped improve wages and working conditions for 1,000+ teachers, nurses, and counselors. He has served on the board of the Minnesota Jump$tart Coalition, which improves financial literacy for kids and young adults, and he helped lead a referendum campaign that kept three public schools from closing.Jake and Molly — a paraprofessional who works with deaf and hard-of-hearing children — are raising their four boys just 10 minutes from where Jake grew up. In his spare time, Jake enjoys distance running, reading books with his kids, and staying optimistic about the Vikings.

Will you be eligible to vote in Minnesota's first congressional district by November 3rd? Then help us get Jake on the ballot by following these 3 steps:

We have put together a step-by-step video guide here. Or you can download our printable How-To Guide.

Jake grew up in Stewartville, Minnesota, with 10 siblings in a working-class family. His dad collected garbage and his mom went door to door&nbsp;reading meters. When his parents got divorced,&nbsp;Jake helped his mom and stepdad, a disabled Vietnam veteran, raise his younger siblings.Growing up, times were tough. Jake and his family worked hard, but that wouldn’t have been enough on its own. His small town community, his church, and his teachers helped him stay on track, and public programs like SNAP and Medicaid were lifelines.&nbsp;

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<h4>Jake Johnson: “D.C. politicians like Brad Finstad are jacking up our bills while gutting Social Security and Medicaid. I’m excited to hold a town hall in every county in our district to hear how we can make government work for regular people.”</h4>ROCHESTER, Minn. — Today, lifelong southern Minnesotan and Democrat Jake Johnson — teacher, union leader, husband, and father — announced he is running for Congress in Minnesota’s first district to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad.Jake is launching this grassroots campaign to hear from and earn the support of people across the first district who have been ignored by politicians in Washington. This comes in response to billionaire-funded efforts to ransack the government at the expense of working people, with Congressman Brad Finstad voting to cut Medicaid, supporting the tariffs that are bankrupting farmers and driving up grocery bills, trying to ban nearly all abortions nationally, and enabling Elon Musk to attack Social Security and funding for the Mayo Clinic.Jake, on the other hand, having spent his career serving this community, is well equipped to fight for people across the district. Jake has lived the American Dream and wants to ensure fellow Minnesotans can also lead their lives with dignity and opportunity. Jake is running for Congress to make sure every child has access to a quality public education, to ensure every senior has Social Security and Medicare, and to enable every family to afford their everyday needs.&nbsp;“Teaching in Rochester Public Schools for the past 19 years has been the joy of my professional life. But seeing the destruction and chaos coming out of Washington has pushed me to do more to make sure my students can thrive in southern Minnesota,” said Jake Johnson about his campaign launch. “Politicians in Washington are enriching themselves and their billionaire friends, while gutting the programs that allow everyday Minnesotans like those in my family to survive and succeed. Brad Finstad is hiding from the people he is harming, and it’s time we hold him accountable.”Jake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans' benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester.Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys.###

July 7, 2025

Jake Johnson Raises $260k by End of First Quarter

Mail the petition to PO Box 6295, Rochester, MN 55903.If possible, please mail them sooner! We would like to keep track of our progress towards our goal.

For the past 20 years, Jake has taught students from all walks of life, in classes ranging from remedial math to AP Calculus. He’s done it with the belief that every student is capable of greatness if they work hard, no matter where they start from.Jake has helped dozens of students who were initially “projected to drop out of high school” not just stay in school, but end up taking accelerated math classes. Jake's success in the classroom has made him a two-time recipient of the highest recognition in the state for math education, given to no more than three K-12 math teachers per year.

April 18, 2025

Local teacher's grassroots campaign for congress raises over $100K on first day

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<h4>One month into his campaign, Jake Johnson receives endorsements from five local DFL leaders in the fight against the decisions of Washington politicians.&nbsp;</h4>SOUTHERN MINN. — Jake Johnson announced his campaign just under a month ago. Since then, he has met with Minnesotans across the district, <a href="https://www.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/raised-100k-on-first-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">raised over $100K within a day</a>, and built the start of a grassroots campaign to beat Rep. Brad Finstad. Today, Jake Johnson received endorsements from key local voices that have been part of the fight to oust Washington politicians like Brad Finstad and to ensure Minnesota stands up against the attacks from Washington. “I wholeheartedly endorse Jake Johnson for Congressional District 1 Representative,” said Anastasia Hopkins Folpe, Treasurer of the Olmsted County DFL. “Jake is a big reason the 2024 Rochester Public Schools Referendum was successful. He put in the work to make sure our public schools have what they need for the future. It's just one example of who Jake is, and why he will make a great representative for our district. His positivity, his grounding in rural Minnesota, and his vision for a better life for everyone are what we need here and in Congress.” “Jake has what it takes. He knows this district, he’s supported hundreds of students and families in this district, and I have no doubt that he will serve our district well,” said Caitlin Nicholson, former Chair of the First Congressional District DFL (2023-2025). “He’s a leader who listens more than he talks, and he’ll be an excellent leader to lift up our voices in Congress.” “Jake Johnson embodies character and integrity,” said Lynn Wilson, former Chair of the Olmsted County DFL (2000-2016). “A native of southern Minnesota, Jake overcame challenges to become an admired and respected father and educator. I am particularly impressed by Jake’s ability to actively listen, pose thoughtful questions, and comprehend our concerns. Jake possesses the qualities and expertise we can rely upon to effectively serve us in Washington D.C.” “Jake, growing up, had the first-hand experience of the economic struggles that working people are having right now. So a fight for economic fairness is in his DNA,” said Aleta Borrud, 2024 DFL Candidate for MN State Senate District 24. “And he is a proven leader, representing teachers and having headed up a winning referendum campaign for our district’s schools. I give him my enthusiastic endorsement.” “When I talked to Jake, he told it to me straight: ‘We can be doing better, and we can be doing more for working class Minnesotans.’ That's the kind of attitude I'm looking for from my representative,” said Allie Wolf, 2024 DFL candidate for MN House of Representatives District 26B. “We need someone who will stand up to corporate lobbyists and billionaires to protect the people who actually build and feed and fuel this country — us — and Jake Johnson is ready for that fight.” Jake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester. Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys. ###

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Jake Johnson announces grassroots campaign for congress to fight for working people and represent southern minnesotans

On the first day of his congressional campaign, local teacher Jake Johnson raised over $100K.

Jake Johnson Raises Over $100K on First Day

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News from Jake Johnson, a lifelong math teacher and union leader who is running for Congress in Minnesota's first congressional district.

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Today, lifelong southern Minnesotan Jake Johnson — teacher, union leader, husband, and father — announced he is running for Congress.

Jake Johnson Announces Grassroots Campaign for Congress

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Jake Johnson is running for Congress to empower working families across southern Minnesota.

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Congressman Brad Finstad has once again failed to deliver year-round E15 for southern Minnesota farmers and ethanol producers. Finstad’s vote for yesterday’s FY2026 appropriations package, which did not include year-round E15, comes after a similar failure just over a year ago when DOGE Caucus member Brad Finstad joined <a href="https://agnetwest.com/at-last-weeks-national-ethanol-conference-renewable-fuels-association-rfa-president-and-ceo-geoff-cooper-expressed-frustration-over-the-criticizes-musk-removal-year-round-e15-federal-spend/">Elon Musk’s push</a> to kill the provision.“Minnesotans don’t need another excuse or press release,” said Jake Johnson, candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s first district, responding to Finstad’s <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="https://finstad.house.gov/2026/1/finstad-releases-statement-following-exclusion-of-e15-in-fy-2026-appropriations-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">press release</a>. “Congressman Finstad has failed to deliver year-round E15, and he still has not gotten a farm bill done. The people of southern Minnesota deserve a representative who can actually solve problems and get results in a bipartisan fashion.”Year-round E15 would lower gas prices, strengthen markets for Minnesota corn growers, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and support good-paying jobs across the district. Instead, southern Minnesota families are left with uncertainty while Washington insiders protect powerful donors, including figures like Elon Musk and industries like Big Oil, who have actively opposed biofuel policies and <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/brad-finstad/pacs?cat=E01&amp;catlong=Oil+%26+Gas&amp;cid=N00050649&amp;cycle=2024&amp;seclong=Energy+%26+Natural+Resources&amp;sector=E">donate</a> to Finstad’s campaigns.###

Congressman Brad Finstad has once again failed to deliver year-round E15 for southern Minnesota farmers and ethanol producers.

Finstad fails again on year-round E15, building on his inability to pass a farm bill

The Rochester Education Association —&nbsp;which represents over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and counselors in Rochester Public Schools — is endorsing Jake Johnson in Minnesota’s first congressional district. Jake has spent 20 years as a public school teacher and a leader in REA, where he served on three bargaining teams and helped navigate complex policy and budget debates as its Governmental Relations Coordinator. “Jake has always put people first,” said Vince Wagner, President of REA. “The Rochester Education Association endorses him because we know he’ll do the same for every citizen in MN-01.”“As a member of REA for the past 20 years, I know how important it is to stand up for students, educators, and working families,” said Jake Johnson. “I’m grateful for REA’s support as we fight for working people across southern Minnesota.”###

The Rochester Education Association —&nbsp;which represents over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and counselors in Rochester Public Schools — is endorsing Jake Johnson.

Rochester Education Association Endorses Jake Johnson

Rochester, MN – Last night, Mayo Clinic announced that it will be closing six clinics and stripping Albert Lea of critical surgeries. Patients in Wells, St. Peter, Caledonia, and North Mankato will be forced to drive further for routine care, while Albert Lea residents will lose access to various local surgeries. The closures come just weeks after Congressman Brad Finstad voted to slash nearly $100 billion from rural Medicaid (Medical Assistance), which keeps rural clinics afloat.“Minnesotans are being told to settle for less while politicians like Brad Finstad defund Medicaid and hand the money to billionaires,” said Jake Johnson, a local math teacher and lifelong resident of southern Minnesota. “We need to stop selling out our small towns to the highest bidder, and instead fight to keep care close to home.”“This is personal to me. When I grew up in Stewartville, my family depended on healthcare that was funded through Medicaid,” Johnson continued. “Now those same lifelines are being ripped away, and our communities will pay with longer drives, higher costs, and fewer doctors.”Johnson’s campaign has made protecting Medicaid and rural healthcare a central priority. As he wrote in the Post Bulletin last week, “we deserve a congressman who will protect Medicaid, keep our rural hospitals open, and stand up to the big corporations driving up costs.”###

Jake Johnson issues statement on the closure of four clinics in southern Minnesota, following Finstad's vote to gut Medicaid.

Jake Johnson Says Rural Families Deserve Reliable Care, Not Finstad’s Clinic Closures

STEWARTVILLE, MN — Congressional candidate Jake Johnson is calling for immediate bipartisan action to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and reopen the federal government. This comes after Congressman Brad Finstad, who chairs the House Subcommittee overseeing SNAP, led the effort to slash the program by nearly $200 billion. In a <a href="https://x.com/JakeJohnsonMN/status/1984691492489752615">new video</a> filmed in his hometown of Stewartville, Johnson shares his own story of growing up as one of eleven kids in a working-class family that relied on SNAP to make ends meet. <span class="image video image-center" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/JMs2Fkj6d4w?si=hxe-5J7qYeKY74CM&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 80%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/b8365cc0-55cf-4b31-a5a2-5703ab705073/b8365cc0-55cf-4b31-a5a2-5703ab705073.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1366%2C760&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/JMs2Fkj6d4w?si=hxe-5J7qYeKY74CM&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" align="middle" alignwidth="40" src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/b8365cc0-55cf-4b31-a5a2-5703ab705073/b8365cc0-55cf-4b31-a5a2-5703ab705073.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1366%2C760&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/JMs2Fkj6d4w?si=hxe-5J7qYeKY74CM&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/JMs2Fkj6d4w?si=hxe-5J7qYeKY74CM&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">“Food stamps were a vital part of how my parents kept food on our table,” Johnson says in the video. “But today, food is more expensive than ever. Families who are doing everything right are still coming up short at the checkout line. And the same politicians who caused these prices with tariffs and handouts to big corporations are now trying to gut the program that keeps kids from going hungry.” Johnson’s lived experience contrasts sharply with Finstad’s background and record. Finstad is a multimillionaire and one of the <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2024/house/ideology">most partisan members</a> of Congress. He is the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, which cut $186 billion from SNAP in the same bill that gave $1 trillion in <a href="https://itep.org/top-1-to-receive-1-trillion-tax-cut-from-trump-megabill-over-next-decade/">tax breaks</a> to the richest 1% of Americans. Meanwhile, Johnson, a public school teacher and a union leader, is running for Congress to bring down costs for working families and take on the corruption that got us here in the first place. During this government shutdown, Finstad has been reading off his <a href="https://finstad.house.gov/2025/9/finstad-statement-on-reckless-democrat-government-shutdown">partisan talking points</a> and refusing to do anything that would actually end this stalemate. Meanwhile, Johnson has highlighted how he would be a bipartisan problem solver, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jakejohnsonmn/posts/pfbid0yDMuaXaS8QMeg52FusbTP44ChiPihHrqgzovSfM6uksPAmqVcNMg1v8B6zQEoMK2l">calling for a deal</a> where both sides give up some of their demands in order to end the shutdown and get food to hungry kids.The full video is available <a href="https://x.com/JakeJohnsonMN/status/1984691492489752615">here</a>.###

Johnson highlights how he would be a bipartisan problem solver, calling for a deal where both sides give up some of their demands in order to end the shutdown and get food to hungry kids.

Jake Johnson Calls for a Bipartisan Deal to Protect SNAP and Open the Government

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Jake Johnson, a public school teacher and union leader from southern MN, raised over $260,000 in the first quarter of his campaign, signaling early support from Minnesotans across CD-1.

&nbsp;Today, public school teacher and first-time candidate Jake Johnson announced he has raised more than $750,000 for his bid to flip Minnesota’s first congressional district after bringing in over $240,000 in Q4. Since launching in April 2025, his campaign has received over 14,000 donations with most of them coming from Minnesota, and none of them coming from corporations. “Our message of bringing down costs, taking on corruption, and investing in our small towns is clearly resonating across southern Minnesota,” said Jake Johnson. “We will keep working hard to give our neighbors a representative who shows up for them, not for billionaires and big corporations.”While Representative Brad Finstad is bankrolled by <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/finstad-brad/summary?cid=N00050649">corporate PACs</a> and <a href="https://rollcall.com/2022/12/16/bankman-fried-made-agriculture-panel-members-focus-of-campaign-support/">convicted fraudsters</a>, Jake is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DS3xZ0DDS0-/">cleaning</a> his neighbors’ driveways and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNqyiv1s0zA/">washing</a> cars with his former students, many of whom are working on his grassroots campaign. Jake has not taken a dime from corporate PACs, and 95% of the contributions to his campaign have been $100 or less.###

Jake Johnson raises $750K in the first three quarters of his campaign without taking a single penny from corporations, which is a stark contrast with his opponent.

Jake Johnson Raises More than $750K Since Launch

One month into his campaign, Jake Johnson receives endorsements from five local DFL leaders in the fight against the decisions of Washington politicians.

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Today, the grassroots organization <a style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary)" href="https://www.defeatextremists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Defeat Extremists</a> is endorsing local math teacher Jake Johnson in his campaign for Congress. The group is backing Johnson, a 20-year union leader and father of four, because of his proven commitment to working families and his ability to win one of the most competitive House races in the country. “As a teacher and a father raising four kids in southern Minnesota, I see every day how families are being squeezed – from rising grocery bills, to unaffordable healthcare, to tariffs that are hammering our farmers and small businesses,” said Jake Johnson, math teacher in southern Minnesota. “Congressman Finstad voted to support those tariffs, to defund our rural clinics, and to give more tax breaks to billionaires. Those are extreme positions, plain and simple.” Funded entirely by grassroots donors, Defeat Extremists is focused on beating extremists by investing early in top-tier candidates. Last year, the group invested in eight of the nine House seats that flipped from red to blue. With Finstad rated as <a style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary)" href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2024/house/ideology">one of the most extreme members of Congress</a>, his positions are far out of step with the voters of southern Minnesota. “Defeat Extremists is proud to endorse Jake Johnson to represent the people of Southern Minnesota in Congress,” said Noah Dion, National Political Director of Defeat Extremists. “A lifelong public school teacher and union member, Jake will fight every day for working families to protect Medicare and Social Security and make life more affordable. As out-of-touch, extremist Republicans like Congressman Brad Finstad attack working families, Jake is fighting back. Defeat Extremists is confident that Jake has what it takes to win this critical seat in the path to the House majority.”In 2018, this district was one of the five closest House races in the country, and this seat was decided by fewer than four points in four of the last six elections. Johnson has entered the race as a strong candidate: he raised a record-breaking $264,000 in his first quarter without taking a dime from corporate PACs. He has no primary challengers, and he has already been provisionally endorsed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.&nbsp;###

In 2024, the grassroots organization Defeat Extremists invested in eight of the nine House seats that flipped from red to blue.

Defeat Extremists Endorses Jake Johnson

Zumbrota, MN — Today, local entrepreneur and Army veteran Beth Benike endorsed Jake Johnson in Minnesota’s first congressional district.Benike, founder and CEO of Busy Baby, is a nationally recognized small business leader who grew up in southern Minnesota, served in the U.S. Army, and built her family company from scratch. Her products were featured on Shark Tank, and she was named Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year by <a href="https://www.sba.gov/success-story/sba-celebrates-minnesota-small-business-person-year">President Trump’s Small Business Administration</a>. Now, the tariffs have pushed her business to the brink of collapse, threatening her employees, customers, and livelihood. Meanwhile, Brad Finstad voted to support the tariffs, and he refuses to hold a town hall to hear how the tariffs are hurting his constituents.“We need somebody who will listen to their constituents, hear our pain, hear our problems, and actually care about them,” said Beth Benike, founder and CEO of Busy Baby. “I attempted multiple times to reach Brad Finstad —&nbsp;went to his office, talked to his staff, had multiple phone calls. I have yet to hear from him. Additionally, my husband is a farmer and I’m a veteran, so Finstad claims to be supportive of small businesses, farmers, and veterans, but I have yet to feel that in any way at all.”“Beth represents the very best of southern Minnesota: someone who has served her country and her community with honor,” said Jake Johnson, a math teacher and lifelong resident of southern Minnesota. “Her story is also a warning about how bad policies in Washington, like the terrible tariffs supported by Brad Finstad, are devastating our small businesses, family farms, and working families. I’m honored to have her support, and together we’ll fight for an economy that works for everyone here at home.”Johnson’s campaign is centered on making life more affordable for working families by stopping the tariffs, strengthening healthcare, and investing in small towns.###

Benike, founder and CEO of Busy Baby, is a nationally recognized small business leader who grew up in southern Minnesota, served in the U.S. Army, and built her family company from scratch.

Local Veteran and Small Business Leader Beth Benike Endorses Jake Johnson

&nbsp;Today, state legislators Liz Boldon, Luke Frederick, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith are endorsing Jake Johnson as he runs for Congress in Minnesota's first congressional district."Thank you to these community leaders who are endorsing our campaign for Congress today," said Jake Johnson. "As advocates for Southern Minnesota in the state legislature, they understand the vital importance of having a champion for Southern Minnesota in the federal government as well."“Jake Johnson’s experience as a teacher and union leader as well as his commitment to listen and show up are exactly what the people of CD1 deserve," said State Senator Liz Boldon, SD 25. "I’m thrilled to support him and can’t wait for his leadership and hard work in Congress.” "I fully support Jake Johnson for Congress," said State Representative Luke Frederick, HD 18B. "The people of southern Minnesota will get someone who actually shows up in all communities and listens to them. He will fight for working people over wealthy elites, and will actually bring our southern Minnesota values to Washington D.C." “Jake Johnson is just the leader we need at this critical moment when our constitutional democracy is under attack," said State Representative Tina Liebling, HD 24B. "Jake understands that Congress can’t be a rubber stamp for any president. He will stand up to corruption and billionaires. He will never forget where he came from, and that he works for us.”"Jake Johnson is exactly the kind of person we need in Washington: a good listener who is full of grit and determination, and most importantly, compassion," said State Representative Andy Smith, HD 25B. "Jake Johnson will stand up to the rich and powerful who are pushing us down, and he will fight for every Minnesotan in the First District to live a flourishing life.”###

Southern Minnesota state representatives Liz Boldon, Luke Frederick, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith endorse Jake Johnson for Congress.

Mankato and Rochester Area State Legislators Endorse Jake Johnson

The following is an op-ed <a style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary)" href="https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/columns/jake-johnson-finstads-medicaid-cuts-are-unpopular-heres-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">published</a> in The Post-Bulletin on September 4, 2025:Earlier this summer, Rep. Brad Finstad voted to take $1 trillion away from Medicaid and give $1 trillion in tax breaks to the richest 1% of Americans. This was very unpopular. A Fox News poll <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/americans-weigh-big-beautiful-bill-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">found</a> that 59% of Americans oppose the bill, and Minnesotans have been <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL5k4wuzhyF/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">speaking up</a> about how the bill will make their healthcare even more expensive and harder to access.Perhaps that’s why Finstad felt the need to <a href="https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/columns/rep-brad-finstad-dont-believe-the-democrats-lies-beautiful-bill-strengthens-medicaid-for-minnesotans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">write an op-ed</a> defending his unpopular vote. In it, Finstad dismisses concerns about Medicaid cuts as “fearmongering” and even claims he voted to strengthen Medicaid —&nbsp;the program known as Medical Assistance here in Minnesota.I grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville relying on Medicaid to see a doctor, and for 20 years I’ve taught students who’ve depended on it too. If one of my students turned in an essay with arguments as flimsy as Finstad’s, I’d have to give it a failing grade.For example, take his claim that rural hospitals won’t be “roadkill” under this bill. He touts a new Rural Health Transformation Program that promises $50 billion for rural hospitals, but what he leaves out is that the bill slashes rural Medicaid spending by <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-the-new-reconciliation-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$137 billion</a> . Our rural hospitals are already in crisis, with the Mayo Clinic in Fairmont having recently <a href="https://www.postbulletin.com/health/mayo-clinics-fairmont-hospital-to-close-surgery-labor-and-delivery-units" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shut down</a> surgery and labor services, and these new cuts put the entire hospital <a href="https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-hospitals-miss-out-on-medicaid-windfall-after-trumps-budget-bill-passes/601394229" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">at risk</a> of closing. That closure wouldn’t just hurt Medicaid recipients; it would make health care harder to access for everyone in the Fairmont area.Finstad also argues that the bill’s new work requirements for Medicaid are similar to those Democrats supported in the 1990s. What he fails to mention is that the Clinton-era requirements came with childcare support and transitional Medicaid coverage to help families move into work. His bill includes none of those supports. Instead, it ties Medicaid eligibility to strict work rules while banning states from using waivers to soften the blow.Like most Americans, I believe that programs like Medicaid should not only help people get back on their feet, but also into the workforce when possible. But the fact is, <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/understanding-the-intersection-of-medicaid-and-work-an-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">over 90%</a> of people on Medicaid are already working, caregiving, in school, or have an illness or disability. Expanding work requirements won’t put more people to work; it will just bury families in paperwork and cause <a href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/expanding-federal-work-requirements-medicaid-expansion-coverage-age-64-would" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">nearly 6 million</a> Americans to lose their health care.We’ve seen this play out at the state level before. In Arkansas, new work requirements caused one in four enrollees to <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-work-requirements-will-harm-low-paid-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lose</a> coverage within seven months, all <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/pain-but-no-gain-arkansas-failed-medicaid-work-reporting-requirements-should-not-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">without</a> increasing employment. Families with unstable work schedules — like retail and food service employees — would be the first to lose health care, with a survey <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-work-requirements-will-harm-low-paid-workers#:~:text=A%20work%20requirement%20would%20set,in%20at%20least%20one%20month." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">finding</a> that 43% of workers would fail to meet an 80-hour monthly work requirement at least once in a year.If Finstad were serious about cutting waste and fraud in the health care system, he’d go after the big corporations that are driving up costs, not his own constituents. Today, just six health insurance companies are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/19/health-insurance-companies-uhg-aetna-cigna" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">responsible</a> for 30% of U.S. health spending, up from 10% in 2011. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies keep hiking prices on drugs that have been around for decades, while their CEOs get paid more than <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/11/eli-lilly-dave-ricks-compensation-paris-olympics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$100 million</a> per year.Here in southern Minnesota, families are paying much more for insulin and heart medication than right across the border in Canada, while Big Insurance and Big Pharma pocket the difference.Finstad concludes his op-ed by saying “the most appalling factor in all of this is that Democrats would rather spew lies than get on board.” I could not disagree more. The most appalling factor is that Brad Finstad <a href="https://www.albertleatribune.com/2025/07/dhs-140000-minnesotans-could-lose-health-insurance-under-federal-tax-cut-and-spending-package/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">voted</a> to take health care away from 140,000 Minnesotans in order to give billionaires a tax break.We deserve a congressman who will protect Medicaid, keep our rural hospitals open, and stand up to the big corporations driving up costs. If Finstad ever held a <a href="https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/congressman-finstad-silent-on-lack-of-town-halls" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">town hall</a> , he would hear that’s exactly what southern Minnesotans want.

Jake Johnson writes an op-ed in The Post-Bulletin about the cuts to Medical Assistance, debunking the claims that Rep. Finstad recently made in the same paper about those cuts.

Jake Johnson: Finstad's Medicaid Cuts are Unpopular. Here's Why.

This afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 230-196 to extend the expanded subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for another three years, with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting the bill. Congressman Brad Finstad voted no.“Congressman Finstad just voted against lowering health insurance costs for over 10,000 people in southern Minnesota,” said Jake Johnson, candidate for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. “While I’m hearing about high costs on the campaign trail everywhere I go, Congressman Finstad is in Washington voting for MNSure premiums to be $240 per month higher on average. Many families will now have to pay twice as much for health insurance this year compared to what they paid last year.” Jake believes southern Minnesotans deserve a representative who fights for them and lowers their healthcare costs. If elected to Congress, Jake will never stop doing that. On the other hand, Finstad has a track record of voting to make healthcare less affordable and less accessible. This summer, he voted for the “Big Beautiful Bill” which took nearly $100 billion out of rural healthcare across the country, which was shortly followed by the Mayo Clinic closing <a href="https://www.postbulletin.com/health/2025-in-review-mayo-clinic-health-system-closed-several-clinics-in-southern-minnesota">four rural clinics</a> in Minnesota’s first congressional district. Finstad has also supported legislation that would allow insurance companies to provide stripped-down plans that do not meet the ACA essential benefits requirements, taking care away from those with pre-existing conditions and chronic conditions.&nbsp;###

Jake Johnson issues a statement about Brad Finstad's vote to raise MNSure costs for 10,000+ families in southern Minnesota.

Brad Finstad Votes to Raise Health Insurance Costs

Op-ed by Jake Johnson in the Albert Lea Tribune —&nbsp;October 10, 2025:I’ve been a math teacher in southern Minnesota for the past 20 years. And when I look at the tariffs supported by our Congressman Brad Finstad, I know the math just doesn’t add up. Farmers here plant more than two million acres of soybeans every year. This year, they’re producing a record yield despite soaring input costs, and they’re still facing a crisis. Because of the tariffs, they can’t sell a single bushel to China, our largest buyer. Instead, China is now buying soybeans from Argentina — a nation being bailed out by the very politicians in Washington who created this mess.So where is Finstad? He voted to keep these tariffs in place and even praised them. As chairman of the House Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, he has the power to help open new markets and stand up for the hardworking men and women in our fields. Instead, he’s been missing in action, having not held an in-person town hall since his election in 2022.Southern Minnesota deserves better. In the short term, that means directly helping the farmers that the federal government hurt with their tariffs. But our farmers need more than just short-term aid; they also need someone to fight for our long-term rural economy.If elected, here’s how I would deliver:1. Oppose the blanket tariffs. I’ll vote to stop the blanket tariffs and reassert Congress’s constitutional authority on tariff policy. But that doesn’t mean a return to extreme free trade policies either. I’ll push for fair trade approaches that center worker protections and enforceable wage standards, and I’ll support trade deals that help our farmers, like the recent U.S.–Japan deal that increases corn and soybean exports to Japan.2. Pass a farm bill. Finstad’s top priority has been to pass a farm bill, and three years later, he still hasn’t done it. It’s time that we get a farm bill that actually works for family farmers. That means expanding crop insurance and credit for small and diversified farms, guaranteeing the right for farmers to repair their own farm equipment, and providing funds for rural development programs like housing, broadband, and water infrastructure.3. Be accountable. I will hold 21 in-person town halls before this election, one in every county in our district. This isn’t partisan. Just south of us, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has held in-person town halls this year, and he also pushed back on the tariffs to help save our ag industry. Our previous Republican Congressman Jim Hagedorn held 21 in-person town halls every term. It’s simple: if you can’t face your constituents, you don’t deserve their votes.I’m running for Congress because I believe we can build a future where everyone who works hard can succeed. Our farmers are some of the most productive in the world, and they shouldn’t be responsible for bad math and unexcused absences from Congressman Finstad. With new leadership, we can make sure that our farmers’ hard work actually pays off.

In an op-ed in the Albert Lea Tribune, Jake Johnson lays out his plan to help soybean farmers by stopping the blanket tariffs, passing a farm bill, and listening to the farmers in southern MN.

Jake Johnson: Our Soybean Farmers Deserve Better

Excerpt from <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/politicians-and-candidates-respond-to-wednesdays-shooting/article_0c625437-72dc-467f-af92-a56d9091b410.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">an article</a> in The Free Press:The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis Wednesday sent shockwaves across the state.In a moment, everyone from business owners to national legislators and state senate candidates took to social media to share their thoughts and responses to the tragedy; some, finding backlash to their thoughts.Rep. Brad Finstad, R-CD 1, shared this statement in the hours following the shooting.“What happened in Minneapolis (Wednesday) is a somber reminder of the dangers ICE agents face while doing their jobs. … Praying for the speedy recovery of the ICE officer who was injured (Wednesday) morning. I have the utmost respect for the brave men and women who go to work every day putting their lives on the line, and I stand with our federal agents who are carrying out their sworn duty to serve and protect our communities,” Finstad’s statement read.The response, garnered an overwhelmingly negative response from constituents.“One thing I have to commend you on, you’re very consistent, shame it’s with bad takes,” wrote Alexander Nicholas.“The least you could do is offer a prayer for this woman’s now-orphaned son. The least,” wrote Fran Simpson.The post also saw a number of constituents calling for Finstad to resign from his position in the U.S. House.Finstad’s office declined to comment for this story.In a response to the statement, Jake Johnson, a Democratic challenger for Finstad’s First District seat, said, “These actions are not making anyone in our communities feel safer, and my heart is with Renee Nicole Good’s family and friends, as well as everyone grieving this loss. I was deeply disappointed that Congressman Finstad’s statement did not even acknowledge Renee’s death. We should expect basic human decency from our leaders, and at the very least, that means recognizing the loss of a human life.”###

Excerpt from an article in The Free Press about Finstad and Johnson's responses to the shooting and killing of Renee Nicole Good.

The Free Press: Politicians and candidates respond to Wednesday's shooting

Jake Johnson, a political outsider running for Congress in Minnesota’s first congressional district, has been named as a 2026&nbsp;Unrig Washington&nbsp;candidate by End Citizens United. This builds on Johnson’s campaign to make life affordable in southern Minnesota by taking on the corruption in Washington that stands in the way of policies to bring costs down.“Life is too expensive, but our elected officials are too focused on serving their corporate donors so they can line their own pockets and keep getting reelected,”&nbsp;said Jake Johnson.&nbsp;“I’m running to make government work for working families, not the wealthy and well connected.”Jake’s inclusion on this list reflects his commitment to refuse all contributions from corporate PACs, to ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and to crack down on dark money in politics. As a lifelong southern Minnesotan, a public school teacher of 20 years, and a first-time political candidate, Johnson is focused on serving the people of southern Minnesota, not the special interests of Washington.###

Jake Johnson, a political outsider running for Congress in Minnesota’s first congressional district, has been named as a 2026&nbsp;Unrig Washington&nbsp;candidate by End Citizens United.

Jake Johnson Named an “Unrig Washington” Candidate

Representative Brad Finstad is gaining national notoriety for following someone else’s marching orders about ICE operations in his home state. Posts about his embarrassing slip-up have amassed over 2 million views across social media platforms, garnering attention from members of Congress, national press outlets, and voters in southern Minnesota.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/d760a7ed-5635-45fd-8604-a1aadee01ed3/d760a7ed-5635-45fd-8604-a1aadee01ed3.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C800%2C648&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="middle" alignwidth="40" variant="framed">Comments have poured in to highlight his failures, both in this statement and across his tenure as a congressman. Selected news clips and comments include:<ul><li><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/republican-ridiculed-for-copy-paste-post-thanking-donald-trump-11423782?utm_term=Autofeed&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1769535439" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Newsweek</a>: “Republican ridiculed for copy-paste post thanking Donald Trump. […] Some critics said the congressman’s post was especially inappropriate given the recent fatal incident in his home state.”</li><li><a href="https://www.startribune.com/ice-raids-minnesota/601546426" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Star Tribune</a>: “A post by a Minnesota congressman involving a possible copy-paste faux pas is causing a commotion online. [...] The lines were quickly edited out but are still visible in the post's version history.”</li><li><a href="https://www.ibtimes.com/minnesota-congressman-faces-backlash-after-social-media-post-appears-copy-pasted-trump-admin-3796341" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Business Times</a>: “Minnesota congressman faces backlash after social media post appears to be copy-pasted […] the original post, which can still be seen through Facebook's feature that allows users to see a post's edit history, includes an instructional paragraph”</li><li><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/brad-finstad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Raw Story</a>: “A Minnesota Republican lawmaker faced mockery and humiliation on Monday after he completely screwed up his social media statement on talks between Gov. Tim Walz and President Donald Trump to de-escalate the federal crackdown in Minneapolis.”</li><li><a href="https://x.com/SeanCasten/status/2016123666962973159?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rep. Sean Casten</a>: “Sending thoughts and prayers to everyone employed or represented or by Brad Finstad this morning.”</li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CWwuhntAv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MN-01 Voter Todd Consbruck</a>: “Thanks for sharing Jake. Confirmed what I was guessing was occurring. [...] I’m a Republican that will be supporting the non MAGA candidate. To my knowledge there isn’t a moderate Republican to support in this race.”</li></ul>This slip-up is part of a broader pattern of being unable to do the job of a congressman. For years, Finstad has failed to host in-person town hall meetings, to pass a farm bill, or to deliver year-round E15. Meanwhile, Jake Johnson is running for Congress to actually solve problems for southern Minnesota, such as the high cost of living, the endless corruption in Washington, and the failure to invest in small towns and rural communities across the district. “Finstad has repeatedly shown that he is either unwilling or unable to do his job,” said Jake Johnson in his own words. “The people of southern Minnesota deserve better.”You can view the original statement by viewing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RepFinstad/posts/pfbid02NpuSz2WqRwQc65g75aDDWHGdjyZ2a8JrwUmCXrwsHx3pXRTyevMuXUpjB2Bk4xJ6l" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this post</a> from Representative Finstad, clicking the three buttons on the top right of the screen, and clicking the “view edit history” button.###

Representative Brad Finstad is gaining national notoriety for following someone else’s marching orders about ICE operations in his home state.

Brad Finstad’s Copy-Paste Scandal

On July 29th, Agweek wrote an article about Jake Johnson's appearance and remarks at a Goodhue County Farmers Union meeting. Quotes from the article include:<ul><li>“During a visit to a Goodhue County Farmers Union meeting, the U.S. House Candidate said farmers need affordability, not more bureaucracy.”</li><li>“Johnson, who is a math teacher at Mayo High School in Rochester, said a lack of a farm bill is a major issue for farmers in the district. He also said his campaign is proactively focusing on affordability, and bringing down the cost of things for farmers and all citizens in the district.”</li><li>“I think there’s a lot of people, whether they’re red, in the middle, or blue, who are looking for authenticity, are looking for new ideas, and recognize that Washington has sort of sold us out to the highest bidder.”</li></ul><a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="https://www.dglobe.com/news/minnesota/jake-johnson-calls-out-farm-struggles-including-tariffs-and-lack-of-representation-in-rural-minnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more</a>

"During a visit to a Goodhue County Farmers Union meeting, the U.S. House candidate said farmers need affordability, not more bureaucracy."

Agweek: Jake Johnson calls out farm struggles including tariffs and lack of representation in rural Minnesota

For the second straight quarter, Jake Johnson received more contributions than Rep. Brad Finstad’s campaign committee. In net contributions, Jake Johnson for Congress raised over $244,000 in Q3, while Finstad for Congress received less than $220,000 in the same period.Finstad’s latest FEC filing shows that he received approximately $40,000 from corporate PACs in Q3. That includes donations from companies like Koch Industries and Boeing — big multinational giants that buy off politicians at the expense of working people. One of Finstad’s corporate donors this quarter, Prime Therapeutics, is a controversial pharmacy benefit manager that drives up the cost of prescription drugs and limits patients’ access to care.“It’s the same story every quarter: Brad Finstad refuses to hold a single town hall with his constituents, but he clearly has time for his corporate donors,” said Jake Johnson, a lifelong resident of Minnesota’s first congressional district. “Our campaign is raising money <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNqyiv1s0zA/">the clean way</a> so that we aren’t beholden to any special interests.”<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/b92377af-8d91-45f5-a723-5995ded3d69d/b92377af-8d91-45f5-a723-5995ded3d69d.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="middle" alignwidth="27.5" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Johnson has now raised over $500,000 in under six months. His campaign is powered by over 10,000 individual donations, with the average donation being under $50. Most of his donations come from Minnesota, and the latest round of FEC filings shows that Johnson has far more individual donors from Minnesota than Finstad does.“The people who fuel this campaign are the ones fixing our power lines, running our small businesses, and caring for our families,” said Jake Johnson. “They’re the reason we’re proving, quarter after quarter, that shadowy corporate PACs won’t get the final say in southern Minnesota.”###

In net contributions, Jake Johnson for Congress raised over $244,000 in Q3 (with no corporate PAC money), while Finstad for Congress received less than $220,000 in the same period (with a lot of corporate PAC money).

Jake Johnson Outraises Rep. Brad Finstad — Again

Former two-time congressional candidate Dan Feehan is endorsing Jake Johnson in his campaign for Congress in southern Minnesota. Today, Dan Feehan –&nbsp;veteran, former Pentagon official, former teacher, Mankato resident, and two-time congressional candidate in southern Minnesota – announced that he is endorsing Jake Johnson in his campaign for Minnesota’s first congressional district. “Jake shows up for his neighbors the same way he shows up for his students: prepared, principled, and ready to solve problems,” said Dan Feehan. “Jake embodies the hard‑work ethic and sense of duty that define southern Minnesota. He’s the kind of servant‑leader who will fight to lower costs, protect rural healthcare, and make sure Washington answers to working families, not big corporations.” Feehan joined the Army after the 9/11 attacks, completing two combat tours before teaching in underserved schools and serving as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. As the DFL candidate for Minnesota’s first congressional district in 2018 and 2020, Feehan spent nearly four years traveling the district, hearing firsthand about the challenges with healthcare costs, political corruption, and unfair treatment of farmers and veterans. Focusing on these issues, he came within just 1,315 votes of winning in 2018, and outperformed the Presidential ticket by 7 points in 2020.“From the battlefield to the classroom, Dan Feehan has dedicated his life to lifting others up,” said Jake Johnson. “His track record of public service is truly admirable, and I’m honored to carry forward this spirit of service as we build a coalition of working families across southern Minnesota.”###

Dan Feehan –&nbsp;veteran, former Pentagon official, former teacher, Mankato resident, and two-time congressional candidate in southern Minnesota – announced that he is endorsing Jake Johnson.

Dan Feehan Endorses Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson, a public school teacher from southern Minnesota, launched his campaign to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad on Thursday, April 17th. Donors contributed over $100,000 during the course of the first day.&nbsp;ROCHESTER, Minn. – On Thursday, Jake Johnson launched his campaign for Congress to earn the trust and votes of residents across southern Minnesota. Within a day, the campaign raised over $100,000, demonstrating the significant grassroots support behind his candidacy. “People were chipping in anywhere from the cost of a cup of coffee, to a month of rent. Especially when money is so tight for so many, these contributions show that people are deeply frustrated by what they’re getting with Finstad in office, and are seeing something special happening with our campaign,” Jake Johnson said. “This is just day one – we have a long way to go. But the message is loud and clear: the people of southern Minnesota want a change, and we’re going to get that, together.”&nbsp; Additionally, Jake Johnson hosted his first campaign event last night: a meet and greet in Fairmont. He plans to hold a town hall in every county of Minnesota’s first district. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/fa7ec169-b176-47dd-8246-57ea67184a23/fa7ec169-b176-47dd-8246-57ea67184a23.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1872%2C1400&amp;w=1500" alt="Jake Johnson speaking to over 30 constituents in Fairmont, Minnesota." caption="Jake Johnson speaking to constituents in Fairmont on launch day" align="middle" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Jake Johnson speaking to constituents in Fairmont on launch dayJake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester. Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys. ###

Jake Johnson, a public school teacher from southern Minnesota, launched his campaign to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad on Thursday, April 17th. Donors contributed over $100,000 during the course of the first day.

Local Teacher's Grassroots Campaign for Congress Raises Over $100K on First Day

Johnson slams Finstad vote as new tariffs threaten families, &nbsp;farmers, and small businesses in southern Minnesota Jake Johnson, candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s First Congressional District, criticized Representative Brad Finstad following <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/01/17/trump-tariff-greenland-europe/88231905007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this morning’s announcement</a> that President Donald Trump is imposing new tariffs on Europe tied to an escalating dispute over Greenland.“Brad Finstad <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/09/16/congress/house-again-votes-to-surrender-tariff-powers-to-trump-00566975" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">voted</a> to surrender tariff powers to the President, even though the Constitution specifically gives that power to Congress,” said Jake Johnson. “This latest round of tariffs means that our consumers, farmers, and small businesses will foot the bill for a deeply unpopular and illegal campaign to take over Greenland.”Johnson, whose campaign is focused on making life more affordable, has repeatedly called out the harm that reckless tariffs are causing in southern Minnesota. If elected, Johnson would vote to reassert Congress’ constitutional duties in setting tariff policy for the United States.###

Jake Johnson: "This latest round of tariffs means that our consumers, farmers, and small businesses will foot the bill for a deeply unpopular and illegal campaign to take over Greenland"

Jake Johnson Criticizes New Tariffs

Today, Congressman Brad Finstad&nbsp;<a href="https://jakejohnsonforcongress.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=707cc47da356a86ba4908e117&amp;id=589a254a9a&amp;e=0ee2a97521">issued</a>&nbsp;a statement in support of President Trump’s attacks on Venezuela, standing toe to toe with President Trump as he sets out to “run the country.” In response, Jake Johnson issued the following statement:“I strongly disagree with Congressman Finstad’s support for these illegal attacks and regime change in Venezuela,”&nbsp;said Jake Johnson.&nbsp;“We have to stop risking American lives and wasting taxpayer dollars on these invasions that primarily benefit military contractors and Big Oil. I pray for the speedy recovery of the service members who were injured in this attack, and I pray that Congress grows a backbone so we don’t get bogged down in another endless war.”Jake believes Washington should be focused on lowering prices, not starting foreign wars. Jake does not take any money from any corporate PACs. Meanwhile, Congressman Finstad, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from defense, energy, and natural resources PACs.###

Jake Johnson says he strongly disagrees with Brad Finstad's support of the illegal attacks and regime change in Venezuela.

Brad Finstad supports regime change in Venezuela

During Teachers’ Appreciation Week, local education leaders are highlighting how Congressional Candidate Jake Johnson would be a champion for students and educators across southern Minnesota.

Rochester And Byron Teachers Union Leaders Endorse Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson Launches Signature Petition Drive for Congressional Ballot AccessToday, Jake Johnson officially launched his signature petition drive to secure a place on the ballot for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District this year. While other politicians like Rep. Brad Finstad are buying their way onto the ballot, Jake is taking a different path.“Too many politicians take money from corporations and buy their way onto the ballot,” said Jake Johnson. “I’m taking a different path. I’m proud to be out in the community: listening to voters, earning their signatures, and proving that real representation starts at the grassroots level.”Under Minnesota law, candidates can qualify for the ballot by filing an affidavit of candidacy accompanied by either a filing fee or a nominating petition with a required number of signatures from eligible voters in the district. For U.S. House candidates, nominating petitions must be signed by at least 1,000 voters from the district.Today’s kickoff marks the start of a community-powered effort to collect 3,000 signatures across the district —&nbsp;well over the number of signatures required. This drive underscores Jake’s commitment to earning his spot on the ballot through strong grassroots support.The campaign will collect signatures from all 21 counties across the district, with Jake and volunteers engaging with voters in their communities. Volunteers and supporters can learn how to sign the petition at <a href="https://www.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/signatures">https://www.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/signatures</a>.###

Jake Johnson officially launched his signature petition drive to secure a place on the ballot for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District this year.

Jake Johnson Chooses Grassroots Engagement Over Pay-to-Play Politics

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the United States, is supporting Jake Johnson in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. This is NEA’s <a href="https://educationvotes.nea.org/2026-election/our-recommended-candidates/">first Minnesota recommendation</a> of the 2026 cycle, demonstrating just how committed Jake is to students, educators, and working families across southern Minnesota.“Jake Johnson is a champion for America’s students and Minnesota’s working families,” said Becky Pringle, NEA President. “As an educator and union member, he has dedicated his life to helping his students thrive and strengthening his community. Jake is someone who knows how critical it is to ensure that every student – no matter their background, race or ZIP code – has access to quality public schools. Jake will fight to expand learning opportunities for our students and to stop efforts to divert funding from the 90 percent of our students who attend public school into unaccountable, discriminatory private schools through vouchers. He'll continue working to level the playing field for working families, while getting things done to lift up students, educators, and communities across Minnesota. That is why the National Education Association is proud to recommend Jake Johnson for Congress in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.”“For me, standing up for students, teachers, and working families isn’t theoretical. It’s what I’ve done every day for 20 years,” said Jake Johnson. “I know what it means when teachers and parents can’t afford basic supplies, and when students come in hungry on Mondays because their families don’t have enough to eat on the weekend. It’s time that we elect a representative to Congress who will stop defunding public education and start investing in our local communities.”Jake grew up in Stewartville, the son of a garbage man and a meter reader, with 10 siblings. Jake worked hard to make it into the middle class, supported along the way by his public school teachers, his church community, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMs2Fkj6d4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">programs like SNAP</a>. Jake has spent the past 20 years as a math teacher in Rochester Public Schools. As a leader in his teachers’ union, he has served as its Government Relations Coordinator, been on three bargaining committees, and helped secure more resources for 1,000 workers and 15,000 students in southern Minnesota. Jake and his wife Molly, a paraprofessional who works with deaf and hard-of-hearing kids, are now raising four boys who attend public schools. Jake is running for Congress to make life affordable in southern Minnesota, so that the next generation can also realize their American Dream.###

This is NEA’s first Minnesota recommendation of the 2026 cycle, demonstrating just how committed Jake is to students, educators, and working families across southern Minnesota.

National Education Association Supports Jake Johnson

AUSTIN, MN — Today, local math teacher and union leader Jake Johnson announced that he has received the provisional endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The vote to award this designation passed with unanimous support, giving Johnson a clear pathway to the general election in Minnesota’s first congressional district.“This provisional endorsement sends a clear message: Southern Minnesota is ready for a representative who actually shows up, solves problems, and makes life more affordable,” said Jake Johnson. “I’m running for Congress to stop the destructive tariffs, protect medical assistance, and invest in our small towns. I thank the DFL for their early support and recognition that we are building a winning campaign for working families.”<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98efac20-09d5-40de-bced-671be80133fe/49901778-40c4-4454-a085-dce724e1b6e3/49901778-40c4-4454-a085-dce724e1b6e3.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C1340%2C6000%2C2660&amp;w=1500" alt="Jake Johnson addresses the DFL First Congressional District." caption="" align="middle" alignwidth="35" variant="framed">“Jake Johnson has deep roots in southern Minnesota, a record of leadership in the classroom and in his union, and the grassroots campaign to win this district,” said Lori Sellner, Chair of the Minnesota 1st Congressional District DFL. “With families here struggling under Republican tariffs and healthcare cuts, Jake is exactly the kind of candidate who can defeat Brad Finstad and deliver for working people.”The provisional endorsement is a way that the DFL can provide early formal support to a candidate for an office. This status is conferred if the candidate has gained sufficient support within the DFL and there are no other candidates currently vying for the party endorsement. A candidate receiving this status will still have to be formally endorsed by the party next May at the DFL 1st Congressional District Convention.###

Jake Johnson announced that he has received the provisional endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

DFL Rallies Behind Jake Johnson with Provisional Endorsement in MN-01

Jake Johnson: “D.C. politicians like Brad Finstad are jacking up our bills while gutting Social Security and Medicaid. I’m excited to hold a town hall in every county in our district to hear how we can make government work for regular people.”ROCHESTER, Minn. — Today, lifelong southern Minnesotan and Democrat Jake Johnson — teacher, union leader, husband, and father — announced he is running for Congress in Minnesota’s first district to challenge Congressman Brad Finstad. Jake is launching this grassroots campaign to hear from and earn the support of people across the first district who have been ignored by politicians in Washington. This comes in response to billionaire-funded efforts to ransack the government at the expense of working people, with Congressman Brad Finstad voting to cut Medicaid, supporting the tariffs that are bankrupting farmers and driving up grocery bills, trying to ban nearly all abortions nationally, and enabling Elon Musk to attack Social Security and funding for the Mayo Clinic. Jake, on the other hand, having spent his career serving this community, is well equipped to fight for people across the district. Jake has lived the American Dream and wants to ensure fellow Minnesotans can also lead their lives with dignity and opportunity. Jake is running for Congress to make sure every child has access to a quality public education, to ensure every senior has Social Security and Medicare, and to enable every family to afford their everyday needs.&nbsp; “Teaching in Rochester Public Schools for the past 19 years has been the joy of my professional life. But seeing the destruction and chaos coming out of Washington has pushed me to do more to make sure my students can thrive in southern Minnesota,” said Jake Johnson about his campaign launch. “Politicians in Washington are enriching themselves and their billionaire friends, while gutting the programs that allow everyday Minnesotans like those in my family to survive and succeed. Brad Finstad is hiding from the people he is harming, and it’s time we hold him accountable.” Jake Johnson grew up as a poor kid in Stewartville, Minnesota. He remembers going to bed hungry in a drafty house during the harsh Minnesota winter, but through hard work, strong community support, his mother's food stamps and stepfather's veterans' benefits, and a quality public education, Jake was able to elevate himself to the middle class. Because of Pell Grants and Stafford loans from the Department of Education, he was able to attend the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. After he graduated, he wanted to give back to his community and interviewed for just one job: a math teacher position in Rochester Public Schools. For 19 years, Jake has taught students from remedial math to AP Calculus to help every student reach their full potential. Jake is a proud member of his union’s bargaining team, where he negotiates to raise wages and improve working conditions for over 1,000 teachers, nurses, and social workers in the district. Jake has also been active in his community, serving on the board of the financial literacy nonprofit Minnesota Jumpstart Coalition, and organizing for the recent school referendum in Rochester. Jake and his wife Molly live in Rochester with their four young boys.###

Jake Johnson: “D.C. politicians like Brad Finstad are jacking up our bills while gutting Social Security and Medicaid. I’m excited to hold a town hall in every county in our district to hear how we can make government work for regular people.”

Jake Johnson Announces Grassroots Campaign for Congress to Fight for Working People and Represent Southern Minnesotans

On Friday night, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended all federal funding to Minnesota, freezing SNAP benefits and putting critical grants for farmers at risk.“Food stamps helped my parents keep food on the table when I was growing up,”&nbsp;said Jake Johnson, who is running for Congress against the chairman of the House Nutrition Subcommittee.&nbsp;“At a time when groceries are already too expensive, it’s outrageous to play politics with SNAP and USDA funding that Minnesota families and farmers depend on. Congressman Brad Finstad oversees the SNAP program in Congress, and we deserve to know why he isn’t standing up for farmers and families in southern Minnesota.”Over 25,000 families in Minnesota’s first congressional district rely on SNAP benefits to make ends meet. As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, Brad Finstad recently cut $186 billion from SNAP in the same bill that gave $1 trillion in&nbsp;<a href="https://jakejohnsonforcongress.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=707cc47da356a86ba4908e117&amp;id=e3d7b0e960&amp;e=0ee2a97521">tax breaks</a>&nbsp;to the richest 1% of Americans. Meanwhile, Johnson, a public school teacher who grew up poor in Stewartville, Minnesota, is running for Congress to bring down costs for working families and take on the corruption that got us here in the first place. ###

Jake Johnson: “At a time when groceries are already too expensive, it’s outrageous to play politics with SNAP and USDA funding that Minnesota families and farmers depend on."

Jake Johnson Slams USDA Funding Freeze, Warns Cuts Will Threaten Minnesota Families and Farmers

Jake Johnson raised more than any other congressional challenger in Minnesota this past quarter – all without taking a single dollar from corporate PACs.ROCHESTER, Minn. – A local math teacher just outraised a sitting Congressman who has spent over a decade in government.First-time candidate Jake Johnson raised over $264,000 from grassroots support in the second quarter of 2025, while Rep. Brad Finstad scraped together $235,000 thanks to the big corporations that are exploiting southern Minnesota. This is the most that anyone has ever outpaced Finstad’s fundraising totals in one quarter with external contributions. It is also the most any Minnesota challenger raised in the last quarter while taking on an incumbent representative. “Brad Finstad doesn’t work for us –&nbsp;he works for them,” said Jake Johnson. “When corporations want a favor from Congress, they call Brad Finstad. When working families need help, they get a copy-and-pasted letter.” Finstad’s filings show he relies on big corporations like Cargill and Boeing, who are squeezing our farmers, removing vital safety protections, and driving up costs for families across southern Minnesota. It’s no surprise that Finstad is focused on helping them, not us. Meanwhile, Jake’s donors are electricians, nurses, teachers, and the working people who built this country and keep our communities running.&nbsp; “Our donors are the ones who actually fix our power lines, care for our loved ones, and teach our kids to dream bigger. And they’re chipping in an average of less than $50 each, because they know that when they stand together, they can take back power for regular people across southern Minnesota,” said Jake Johnson.###

Jake Johnson raised more than any other congressional challenger in Minnesota this past quarter – all without taking a single dollar from corporate PACs.

Public School Teacher Outraises Congressman Brad Finstad

Jake Johnson, a local math teacher and union leader, announced today that his campaign raised over $240,000 in the third quarter of 2025. Combined with his $264,000 haul in Q2, Johnson has now brought in more than half a million dollars in just two quarters, all while still teaching full-time and refusing corporate PAC money. “Our campaign is powered by regular people, not billionaires or big corporations,” said Jake Johnson, a lifelong southern Minnesotan. “I’m honored to have this much support from working families who are already stretched thin by grocery and medical bills, but still want to help this campaign. We’re proving that a working-class candidate with a grassroots movement can stand up to the corporate money machine.” While Rep. Brad Finstad is bankrolled by big corporations and even convicted fraudsters, Johnson has built a campaign funded by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNqyiv1s0zA/">car washes</a> with his former students, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122149038026832045&amp;set=a.122109817124832045&amp;notif_id=1759374687246563&amp;notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&amp;ref=notif">retired teachers</a> pitching in what they can, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jakejohnsonmn/video/7555316387284143391">$6 and $7 donations</a> from everyday Minnesotans across the district. Most of the donations to Johnson’s campaign came from in-state and were under $50. Johnson’s strong candidacy has already earned him the rare early backing of the <a href="https://www.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/news/dfl-rallies-behind-jake-johnson-with-provisional-endorsement-in-mn-01">Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party</a>, the endorsement of grassroots organizations like <a href="https://www.defeatextremists.com/">Defeat Extremists</a>, and support from community leaders like <a href="https://www.jakejohnsonforcongress.com/news/beth-benike-endorses-jake-johnson">Beth Benike</a>, Minnesota’s 2025 Small Business Person of the Year. Johnson has no primary challengers, and is fully focused on winning next November. “As a father of four raising a family on a teacher’s salary, I know how expensive life has gotten,” said Jake Johnson. “Families are getting squeezed while Washington keeps giving tax breaks to their billionaire benefactors. That’s why I’m running, to stop these destructive tariffs and healthcare cuts, and to put southern Minnesota first.” MN-01 is identified as a top target by EMILYs List and a district to watch by House Majority PAC. Four of the last six races for this seat were decided by fewer than four points, and this district was one of the five closest House races in the country in 2018. In a district with two million acres of soybeans and the Mayo Clinic as its largest employer, Finstad’s support of tariffs and healthcare cuts hit especially hard. With Johnson’s growing momentum and the community’s growing frustration with Finstad’s absence, southern Minnesota is ready for change.

Jake Johnson, a local math teacher and union leader, announced today that his campaign raised over $240,000 in the third quarter of 2025 — all without taking a penny from corporate PACs.

Jake Johnson Raises Over $240K in Q3, Surpasses Half a Million Raised Total

Jake Johnson is running for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District to bring down costs, take on corruption, and invest in small towns across Southern Minnesota.

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