Politics and Government News

DFLer Osberg announces challenge to 7th District incumbent Michelle Fischbach

portrait of a man in a suit
Erik Osberg kicked off his bid for Congress in Minnesota's 7th District at the historic Depot in Wadena, Tuesday morning.
Mathew Holding Eagle III | MPR News

At the historic Depot in Wadena Tuesday, DFLer Erik Osberg launched his campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 7th District, the seat currently held by Republican Michelle Fischbach.

With the DFL primaries still a year away Osberg identified agriculture, education and health care as his top priorities. He also pledged to use that time to meet voters in their communities.

Osberg said he plans on holding 37 fish fries in 37 counties to help facilitate communication with voters.

“We don’t have the budget, and we don’t have the staff to line all that out yet, but that’s the vision of this campaign. I will come to your community. We will host a fish fry. Y’all can come out,” he said. “Our mission is to create community and connections from Kittson County Down to Pipestone County, from left to right.”

After his speech, Osberg told MPR News any increase in DFL votes in the state’s heavily red 7th Congressional District would be a win.

“That’s really all we’re trying to do is change how we talk to each other, what we talk about, like, real issues, right? There’s a lot of internet issues out there right now, and we’re trying to get back to the real issues that matter to western Minnesota,” he said. “We’re never going to take the low road. We have to come out of this with our integrity intact. We have to do it our way, and our way has to align with our core values.”

U.S. Rep. Fischbach is serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives after upsetting Blue Dog Democrat Collin Peterson in 2020.

Minnesota’s 7th District is the largest in the state.

Version 2 Map of Minnesota US house district 7
Minnesota U.S. House District 7.
Elisabeth Gawthrop | APM Research Lab