Minnesota's 7th congressional district covers the majority of western
Minnesota. It is by far the state's largest district, and has a very rural character. Except for a few southern counties in the
1st district, the 7th includes almost all of Western Minnesota. Cities in the district include
Moorhead (its largest city),
Willmar,
Alexandria, and
Fergus Falls.
With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+19, it is the most Republican district in Minnesota. The district is currently represented by Republican Michelle Fischbach. Despite this, it was represented by DFL member Collin Peterson from 1991 to 2021; Peterson was considered one of the most conservative Democrats in the House.
Election results from statewide races
Election results from presidential races:
Composition
#
|
County
|
Seat
|
Population
|
5
|
Becker
|
Detroit Lakes
|
35,283
|
11
|
Big Stone
|
Ortonville
|
5,105
|
23
|
Chippewa
|
Montevideo
|
12,172
|
27
|
Clay
|
Moorhead
|
66,258
|
33
|
Cottonwood
|
Windom
|
11,319
|
41
|
Douglas
|
Alexandria
|
39,953
|
51
|
Grant
|
Elbow Lake
|
6,139
|
57
|
Hubbard
|
Park Rapids
|
22,132
|
67
|
Kandiyohi
|
Willmar
|
43,813
|
69
|
Kittson
|
Hallock
|
4,060
|
73
|
Lac qui Parle
|
Madison
|
6,630
|
81
|
Lincoln
|
Ivanhoe
|
5,521
|
83
|
Lyon
|
Marshall
|
25,427
|
85
|
McLeod
|
Glencoe
|
36,785
|
89
|
Marshall
|
Warren
|
8,810
|
93
|
Meeker
|
Litchfield
|
23,490
|
97
|
Morrison
|
Little Falls
|
34,250
|
101
|
Murray
|
Slayton
|
8,049
|
107
|
Norman
|
Ada
|
6,329
|
111
|
Otter Tail
|
Fergus Falls
|
60,626
|
113
|
Pennington
|
Thief River Falls
|
13,714
|
117
|
Pipestone
|
Pipestone
|
9,245
|
119
|
Polk
|
Crookston
|
30,412
|
121
|
Pope
|
Glenwood
|
11,400
|
125
|
Red Lake
|
Red Lake Falls
|
3,911
|
127
|
Redwood
|
Redwood Falls
|
15,288
|
129
|
Renville
|
Olivia
|
14,348
|
135
|
Roseau
|
Roseau
|
15,252
|
143
|
Sibley
|
Gaylord
|
15,084
|
145
|
Stearns
|
St. Cloud
|
160,977
|
149
|
Stevens
|
Morris
|
9,728
|
151
|
Swift
|
Benson
|
9,719
|
153
|
Todd
|
Long Prairie
|
25,667
|
155
|
Traverse
|
Wheaton
|
3,136
|
159
|
Wadena
|
Wadena
|
14,241
|
167
|
Wilkin
|
Breckenridge
|
6,306
|
173
|
Yellow Medicine
|
Granite Falls
|
9,467
|
Cities and townships of 10,000 or more people
2,500 – 10,000 people
- Little Falls – 9,140
- East Grand Forks – 8,929
- Thief River Falls – 8,903
- Crookston – 7,323
- Litchfield – 6,602
- Glencoe – 5,744
- Montevideo – 5,300
- Morris – 5,206
- Redwood Falls – 5,084
- Dilworth – 4,771
- Windom – 4,742
- Sauk Centre – 4,599
- Wadena – 4,335
- Park Rapids – 4,269
- Le Sueur – 4,178
- Cold Spring – 4,164
- Pipestone – 4,160
- Melrose – 3,602
- Perham – 3,572
- Benson – 3,480
- Breckenridge – 3,398
- New London Township – 3,057
- Alexandria Township – 2,964
- Barnesville – 2,781
- Albany – 2,780
- Wakefield Township – 2,756
- Roseau – 2,730
- Granite Falls – 2,713
- Brockway Township – 2,702
- Glenwood – 2,651
- Pelican Rapids – 2,602
Demographics
According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 501,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 91% are White and 9% are people of color. Immigrants make up 2% of the district's potential voters. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) in the district is about $61,000, while 9% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 8% of those 25 and older have not earned a high school degree, while 22% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.
List of members representing the district
Member
|
Party
|
Years
|
Cong ress
|
Electoral history
|
District created March 4, 1893
|
Haldor Boen (Fergus Falls)
|
Populist
|
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895
|
53rd
|
Elected in 1892. Lost re-election.
|
Frank Eddy (Glenwood)
|
Republican
|
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1903
|
54th 55th 56th 57th
|
Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Retired.
|
Andrew Volstead (Granite Falls)
|
Republican
|
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1923
|
58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th
|
Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Lost re-election.
|
Ole J. Kvale (Benson)
|
Farmer–Labor
|
March 4, 1923 – September 11, 1929
|
68th 69th 70th 71st
|
Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Died.
|
Vacant
|
September 11, 1929 – October 16, 1929
|
71st
|
|
Paul John Kvale (Benson)
|
Farmer–Labor
|
October 16, 1929 – March 3, 1933
|
71st 72nd
|
Elected to finish his father's term. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the at-large district.
|
District inactive
|
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
|
73rd
|
All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket.
|
Paul John Kvale (Benson)
|
Farmer–Labor
|
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1939
|
74th 75th
|
Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Lost re-election.
|
Herman Carl Andersen (Tyler)
|
Republican
|
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1963
|
76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th
|
Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost renomination in a redistricting contest.
|
Odin Langen (Kennedy)
|
Republican
|
January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971
|
88th 89th 90th 91st
|
Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election.
|
Robert Bergland (Roseau)
|
Democratic (DFL)
|
January 3, 1971 – January 22, 1977
|
92nd 93rd 94th 95th
|
Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
|
Vacant
|
January 22, 1977 – February 22, 1977
|
95th
|
|
Arlan Stangeland (Barnesville)
|
Republican
|
February 22, 1977 – January 3, 1991
|
95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st
|
Elected to finish Bergland's term. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Lost re-election.
|
Collin Peterson (Detroit Lakes)
|
Democratic (DFL)
|
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2021
|
102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th
|
Elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Lost re-election.
|
Michelle Fischbach (Regal)
|
Republican
|
January 3, 2021 – present
|
117th 118th
|
Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024.
|
Recent election results