Johnson leads Finstad by about 320 votes in 1st District

In Minnesota's 1st Congressional District in southern Minnesota, Democrat Jake Johnson leads Republican Representative Brad Finstad by about 320 votes, roughly 0.1 percent, according to unofficial Secretary of State results. Johnson, a Rochester math teacher, declared victory. Finstad's campaign says it will let the recount process proceed. Margins under 0.25 percent qualify for a publicly funded recount.

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Why it matters

The race decides who represents southern Minnesota in the U.S. House. Under state rules, a margin under 0.25 percent qualifies for a publicly funded recount, in which ballots are checked by hand. Results are not official until canvassing boards review them.

What to watch

County canvassing boards review results from November 6 to 13, and the State Canvassing Board meets November 19; no recount can start before then.

How each side sees it

Johnson's campaign saysAll precincts have reported, Johnson is up by over 300 votes, and the campaign has no doubt he won.

Finstad's campaign saysIt will let the recount process proceed and wait for the results, and work to ensure the full legal process is followed so every vote is counted accurately.

Sources

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Published Friday, November 6, 2026. Spot an error? Email [email protected]. See our corrections log and standards.