# Minnesota's 7th congressional district

Minnesota's 7th congressional district covers the majority of western Minnesota. It is by far the state's largest district, and has a very rural character. Except for a few southern counties in the 1st district, the 7th includes almost all of Western Minnesota. Cities in the district include Moorhead (its largest city), Willmar, Alexandria, and Fergus Falls.
With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+19, it is the most Republican district in Minnesota. The district is currently represented by Republican Michelle Fischbach. Despite this, it was represented by DFL member Collin Peterson from 1991 to 2021; Peterson was considered one of the most conservative Democrats in the House.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 51% - 45% |
| 2008 | Senate | Coleman 48% - 35% |
| 2010 | Governor | Emmer 49% - 38% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Severson 51% - 42% |
| 2010 | Auditor | Anderson 54% - 41% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Swanson 47% - 46% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 55% - 42% |
| 2012 | Senate | Klobuchar 61% - 35% |
| 2014 | Senate | McFadden 48% - 47% |
| 2014 | Governor | Johnson 52% - 42% |
| 2014 | Secretary of State | Severson 54% - 39% |
| 2014 | Auditor | Gilbert 47% - 45% |
| 2014 | Attorney General | Newman 47% - 45% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 63% - 29% |
| 2018 | Senate (Reg.) | Newberger 50% - 47% |
| 2018 | Senate (Spec.) | Housley 57% - 39% |
| 2018 | Governor | Johnson 59% - 38% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Howe 60% - 36% |
| 2018 | Auditor | Myhra 59% - 35% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Wardlow 61% - 34% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 66% - 32% |
| 2020 | Senate | Lewis 61% - 32% |
| 2022 | Governor | Jensen 65% - 31% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Crockett 65% - 34% |
| 2022 | Auditor | Wilson 66% - 29% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Schultz 69% - 31% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 67% - 31% |
| 2024 | Senate | White 57% - 40% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:
Becker County (29)
    Atlanta Township, Audubon, Burlington Township, Carsonville Township, Cormorant Township, Cuba Township, Detroit Lakes, Detroit Township, Erie Township, Evergreen Township, Frazee, Green Valley Township, Hamden Township, Height of Land Township, Holmesville Township, Lake Eunice Township, Lake Park, Lake Park Township, Lake View Township, Osage Township, Richwood Township, Runeberg Township, Shell Lake Township, Silver Leaf Township, Spruce Grove Township, Toad Lake Township, Walworth Township, Wolf Lake, Wolf Lake Township
Big Stone County (22)
    All 22 townships and municipalities
Brown County (10)
    Bashaw Township, Burnstown Township, Cobden, Comfrey (shared with Cottonwood County), Leavenworth Township, Mulligan Township, North Star Township, Prairieville Township (part; also 1st), Springfield, Stately Township
Chippewa County (22)
    All 22 townships and municipalities
Clay County (41)
    All 41 townships and municipalities
Cottonwood County (25)
    All 25 townships and municipalities
Douglas County (31)
    All 31 townships and municipalities
Grant County (23)
    All 23 townships and municipalities
Hubbard County (13)
    Akeley, Akeley Township (part; also 8th), Badoura Township, Crow Wing Lake Township, Henrietta Township, Hubbard Township, Mantrap Township, Nevis, Nevis Township, Park Rapids, Straight River Township, Todd Township, White Oak Township
Kandiyohi County (36)
    All 36 townships and municipalities
Kittson County (38)
    All 38 townships and municipalities
Lac qui Parle County (29)
    All 29 townships and municipalities
Lincoln County (20)
    All 20 townships and municipalities
Lyon County (31)
    All 31 townships and municipalities
McLeod County (23)
    All 23 townships and municipalities
Marshall County (59)
    All 59 townships and municipalities
Meeker County (26)
    All 26 townships and municipalities
Morrison County (46)
    All 46 townships and municipalities
Murray County (29)
    All 29 townships and municipalities
Norman County (32)
    All 32 townships and municipalities
Otter Tail County (83)
    All 83 townships and municipalities
Pennington County (24)
    All 24 townships and municipalities
Pipestone County (21)
    All 21 townships and municipalities
Polk County (73)
    All 73 townships and municipalities
Pope County (30)
    All 30 townships and municipalities
Red Lake County (17)
    All 17 townships and municipalities
Redwood County (41)
    All 41 townships and municipalities
Renville County (37)
    All 37 townships and municipalities
Roseu County (39)
    All 39 townships and municipalities
Sibley County (25)
    All 25 townships and municipalities
Stearns County (52)
    Albany, Albany Township, Ashley Township, Avon, Avon Township, Belgrade, Brockway Township, Cold Spring, Crow Lake Township, Crow River Township, Eden Lake Township, Eden Valley (shared with Meeker County), Elrosa, Farming Township, Freeport, Getty Township, Greenwald, Grove Township, Holding Township, Holdingford, Kimball, Krain Township, Lake George Township, Lake Henry, Lake Henry Township, Luxemberg Township, Maine Prairie Township, Meire Grove, Melrose, Melrose Township, Millwood Township, Munson Township, New Munich, North Fork Township, Oak Township, Paynesville, Paynesville Township, Raymond Township, Richmond, Roscoe, Sauk Centre, Sauk Centre Township, Spring Hill, Spring Hill Township, St. Anthony, St. Martin, St. Martin Township, St. Rosa, St. Stephen, St. Wendel Township (part; 6th), Wakefield Township, Zion Township
Stevens County (29)
    All 29 townships and municipalities
Swift County (29)
    All 29 townships and municipalities
Todd County (39)
    All 39 townships and municipalities
Traverse County (19)
    All 19 townships and municipalities
Wadena County (23)
    All 23 townships and municipalities
Wilkin County (30)
    All 30 townships and municipalities
Yellow Medicine County (30)
    All 30 townships and municipalities

## Demographics

According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 501,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 91% are White and 9% are people of color. Immigrants make up 2% of the district's potential voters. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) in the district is about $61,000, while 9% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 8% of those 25 and older have not earned a high school degree, while 22% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District created March 4, 1893 |||||
| Haldor Boen (Fergus Falls) | Populist | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. Lost re-election. |
| Frank Eddy (Glenwood) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1903 | 54th 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Retired. |
| Andrew Volstead (Granite Falls) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1923 | 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Lost re-election. |
| Ole J. Kvale (Benson) | Farmer–Labor | March 4, 1923 – September 11, 1929 | 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 11, 1929 – October 16, 1929 | 71st | |
| Paul John Kvale (Benson) | Farmer–Labor | October 16, 1929 – March 3, 1933 | 71st 72nd | Elected to finish his father's term. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the at-large district. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket. |
| Paul John Kvale (Benson) | Farmer–Labor | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1939 | 74th 75th | Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Lost re-election. |
| Herman Carl Andersen (Tyler) | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1963 | 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost renomination in a redistricting contest. |
| Odin Langen (Kennedy) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971 | 88th 89th 90th 91st | Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election. |
| Robert Bergland (Roseau) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1971 – January 22, 1977 | 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 22, 1977 – February 22, 1977 | 95th | |
| Arlan Stangeland (Barnesville) | Republican | February 22, 1977 – January 3, 1991 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st | Elected to finish Bergland's term. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Lost re-election. |
| Collin Peterson (Detroit Lakes) | Democratic (DFL) | January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2021 | 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Lost re-election. |
| Michelle Fischbach (Regal) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Recent election results
### 2002

2002 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 170,234 | 65.27 | − |
| | Republican | Dan Stevens | 90,342 | 34.64 | − |

### 2004

2004 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 207,628 | 66.07 | +1 |
| | Republican | David Sturrock | 106,349 | 33.84 | − |

### 2006

2006 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 179,164 | 70 | +4 |
| Republican | Michael Barrett | 74,557 | 29 | − |
| Constitution | Ken Lucier | 3,303 | 1 | − |

### 2008

2008 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 227,180 | 72.20 | +2.2 |
| Republican | Glen Menze | 87,062 | 27.67 | − |
| N/A | others | 431 | 0.14 | − |

### 2010

2010 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 159,479 | 52.5 | −19.7 |
| Republican | Lee Byberg | 90,650 | 37.6 | +9.2 |
| N/A | others | 17,155 | 7.2 | − |

### 2012

2012 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 197,791 | 60.4 | +7.9 |
| Republican | Lee Byberg | 114,151 | 34.8 | −2.8 |
| N/A | others | | 4.7 | − |

### 2014

2014 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 130,546 | 54.2 | −6.2 |
| Republican | Torrey Westrom | 109,955 | 45.7 | +10.9 |
| N/A | others | 334 | 0.1 | − |

### 2016

2016 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 173,589 | 52.5 | −1.7 |
| Republican | Dave Hughes | 156,952 | 47.4 | +1.7 |
| N/A | others | 307 | 0.1 | − |

### 2018

2018 Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 146,672 | 52.1 | −0.4 |
| Republican | Dave Hughes | 134,668 | 47.9 | +0.5 |
| N/A | others | 168 | <0.1 | −0.1 |

### 2020

Minnesota's 7th congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Michelle Fischbach | 194,066 | 53.4 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Collin Peterson (incumbent) | 144,840 | 39.8 |
| Legal Marijuana Now | Slater Johnson | 17,710 | 4.9 |
| Grassroots | Rae Hart Anderson | 6,499 | 1.8 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 362 | 0.1 |

### 2022

Minnesota's 7th congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Michelle Fischbach (incumbent) | 204,755 | 67.0 |
| Democratic (DFL) | Jill Abahsain | 84,447 | 27.6 |
| Independent | Travis Johnson | 16,421 | 5.4 |