Who's In the Race

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) faces Democrat Erik Osberg in the Nov. 3 general election in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District. ​

Fischbach has represented the district since 2021, previously served as Minnesota lieutenant governor, and has held elected office for more than 20 years.

Osberg is a county employee, former small-business owner, and media marketing firm owner who has worked in the financial sector, public sector, and trades.

Fischbach won the Republican primary on Aug. 11 with 69,436 votes. Osberg won the Democratic primary the same day with 15,582 votes, over runner-up Steve Carlson, who received 8,134 votes.

What They Stand For

Fischbach has proposed ending federal funding for abortion and protecting pregnancy resource centers, according to her campaign website. She has also supported:

  • Policies that "defend life" and oppose what she describes as "infanticide and taxpayer-funded abortions,"
  • Prioritizing agriculture, including addressing rising costs and infrastructure needs; and
  • highlighted eligibility for the 45Z tax credit as part of her agriculture priorities.

Osberg has proposed protecting Social Security by opposing benefit cuts, rejecting a higher retirement age, and scrapping or significantly raising the payroll-tax cap, according to his campaign website. He has also supported:

  • Directing more health-care spending toward patients, providers, rural clinics, and hospitals by reducing waste and bureaucracy,
  • Small and mid-sized family farms, crop insurance, and strengthening programs farmers rely on; and
  • Reclaiming congressional authority over spending, tariffs, and oversight, and upholding due process and equal protection.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Every major handicapper rates this race as safe for the incumbent. The Cook Political Report rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Fischbach, a 97.6 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Democrats, whose nominee is Osberg, stood at 2.4 percent.

The district's recent history supports that outlook. Fischbach won the seat with about 67 percent of the vote in 2022 and about 70 percent in 2024. Statewide, Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats split evenly, four to four between Democrats and Republicans, in both 2022 and 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried Minnesota with about 51 percent of the vote.

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