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:
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.
|
Recent election results