SLEEPY EYE — Minnesota First District voters re-elected Brad Finstad of New Ulm to another term in Congress Tuesday.

Finstad was all smiles greeting old friends during a Brown County Republican Watch Party at the Sleepy Eye Event Center.

With 451 of 749 precincts reporting at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Finstad had 135,645 votes. Democratic challenger Rachel Bohman of Rochester had 86,142 votes.

“The Associated Press called it at about 10:30 p.m., 61% to 39%. I just feel very honored. Very thankful. Southern Minnesota has been our home for many years. I take this job very seriously and I’m ready to get back to work,” said Finstad.

“It’s been fun to see the excitement in the voter turnout. People were saying there were voters registering and voting into the final voting hours. It seems like the turnout is high which is great. Regardless of the outcome, it’s great when our country participates in our elections. This is an exciting night,” Finstad said.

He took a commanding lead early over Democratic challenger and Rochester native and assistant county attorney Rachel Bohman. He received 99 (89.19%) of the first 112 votes.

Then the margin began to get a bit narrower. At 8:50 p.m., it was 4-1 margin.

At 8:59 p.m., Finstad had 6,834 votes (68%) to 4,241 for Bohman (32%). With nearly 15% of precincts reporting, Finstad had 30,393 votes to 17,607 for Bohman.

A fourth-generation farmer, Finstad and his wife, Jackie, have seven children.

Like Bohman, Finstad said his biggest priority has been been working on a Farm Bill that serves the needs of local farmers and rural communities.

Finstad was elected to Congress in a special election on Aug. 9, 2022 and served out the remaining term of the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died of cancer earlier that year.

A former state representative, he served as USDA Rural Development state director during the Trump administration.

In August, Bohman ran uncontested for the Democratic primary. She was earlier elected to the Rochester Township board.

The First District stretches across southern Minnesota from the Wisconsin western border to south Dakota’s eastern line. For a long time, the district was represented in Congress by Gov. Tim Walz.