Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke on GOP fundraising challenges during pivotal 2026 midterm races in an interview on ‘America’s Newsroom.’ He commented on Chuck Schumer’s support of Democratic Socialists of America candidates and assessed ongoing maritime tensions with Iran. Thune also addressed Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, emphasizing the tight margins in the Senate.
In Minnesota, Republican voters selected their incumbent U.S. House representative for the 1st Congressional District. Rep. Brad Finstad competed against Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan in the Republican primary. Goetzman had previously challenged Finstad in 2024, but managed only 4.26% of the vote versus Finstad’s dominant 90.9%. Morlan, from an industrial cleaning business, ran as a political outsider.
The 1st District is one of Minnesota’s four Republican-held seats in the U.S. House. Covering Rochester and much of southern Minnesota’s agricultural areas, Finstad advances to face either Alex Eaton, a math teacher and ex-teachers-union leader, or Jake Johnson, a small business owner, in the Democratic primary. Eaton is seen as an establishment figure, while Johnson represents a progressive stance.
The Cook Political Report rates the upcoming election as ‘lean Republican,’ a shift from previous ‘solid Republican’ standings as urban centers in Minnesota increasingly align with leftist views.
Rep. Finstad has served in the House since a 2022 special election following the death of Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn from kidney cancer complications. Before Hagedorn, the seat belonged to Democrat Tim Walz, who left Congress for the governorship and attempted a vice-presidential bid alongside Kamala Harris.
Walz announced he would not seek reelection on January 5, 2026. Although the district has swayed Republican lately, it has historically seen representation from both parties. As the election approaches, issues like agriculture, health care, manufacturing, and the economy will dominate discussions.
The nominees will compete in November to determine the representative for southern Minnesota in the U.S. House.