Michelle Fischbach

FARGO, N.D. — DFL candidate for U.S. House Erik Osberg took frequent aim at what he charged Congress has not done, while Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Fischbach cited what she touted as its achievements in an hour-long debate broadcast by Prairie Public Television on Thursday evening.

It was the only planned, face-to-face debate between the two candidates for the Congressional District 7 seat, which represents the 38 counties of western Minnesota. Rep. Fischbach, of Regal, upset Democrat Collin Peterson in 2020 for the seat, and won re-elections with big margins against Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party rivals in 2022 and 2024.

Osberg, of Wadena, said he is running for Congress “because I believe we can do better.“ He said he has been campaigning on a platform that calls for defending the Constitution, getting corporate money out of politics, and supporting agriculture, healthcare and public education.

What the candidates would propose to improve farm profitability was among the first questions posed by debate moderator David Thompson.

“Number one policy is ending the chaos and uncertainty. Congress needs to restore their control over things like tariffs,” was Osberg’s response.

Fischbach pointed to her support for year-around E15 ethanol and promoting domestic markets for agriculture, as well as programs to reduce farm input costs.

While the House has passed a farm bill, the Senate has not. Osberg told Fischbach that when she debated Peterson in 2020, she called it a “dead end” if the two chambers were not negotiating to approve a bill and make it law.

Fischbach responded that Congress is going through the process, and that a new farm bill “is an absolute priority of mine.”

Tariffs, the Iran war and budget actions by President Donald Trump that Osberg believes exceed his constitutional authority were among the issues the challenger raised in calling on Congress to perform its duties.

On tariffs, “Congress needs to stand up and say no, we’re not going to let one person make arbitrary and high-handed decisions that affect the American people on a daily basis, whether it be at the grocery store or the gas pump,” said Osberg.

“Nobody likes tariffs,” said Fischbach, but she defended them as a means to get parties to the table and make for an even playing field in trade.

Congress had many opportunities “to step up” and exercise its war power authority, according to Osberg. “We have to figure out a way to keep ourselves out of these forever wars.”

Fischbach said the war powers bills that Congress rejected called for the immediate end to military involvement and would put the nation at risk. She defended the war against Iran.

“We do not want them to have a nuclear weapon, plain and simple,” said the congresswoman.

The candidates voiced clear differences on Ukraine.

“I view Ukraine as an ally. We absolutely and positively need to stand with our allies, especially when they are faced with the aggression Putin has been using against them,” said Osberg.

Fischbach said she had voted earlier for humanitarian aid for Ukraine, but has concerns.

”We need to take a step back. We have to have transparency and the information we need (to know) where our dollars are going,” she said

The candidates also differed on questions about affordability, job creation, healthcare, and fixes for Social Security and Medicare.

“No simple answer,” said Fischbach in response to a question on affordability. She said the “big, beautiful bill” provided tax cuts to help working families, and she cited concerns about over-regulation, taxes and the Federal Reserve.

Osberg cited the costs of the Iran war and tariffs and the lack of action by Congress.

The DFL challenger said he’d support ending the cap on the amount of earnings taxable by Social Security in order to increase revenues to keep the program solvent. Recipients could experience cuts of 25% beginning in 2032, but Congress has not acted to address the projected revenue shortfall, according to the candidate.

Fischbach said Congress is “looking at everything,” including investments and the retirement age. It is not going to cut current recipients’ benefits, she said.

Osberg raised his concerns about the $40 trillion national debt and called for Congress to exercise its constitutional “power of the purse.” He called for closing loopholes that allow megacorporations to avoid paying taxes. He also cited spending on “wars of choice” and “vanity projects” in Washington, D.C.

Fischbach said Congress seeks to cut spending in federal agencies and “weed out wasteful spending.” As for Congress not acting, Fischbach countered that House Republicans have approved 12 appropriation bills, something that has not been done since 1997.

As a supporter of the Constitution, Osberg said he supports Second Amendment gun rights. He could see himself at odds with his party in this area. He added that the country needs to have “serious conversations” about violence.

Fischbach pointed to her endorsement by the National Rifle Association.

The incumbent has come under criticism for not hosting in-person town halls with the public. She stated that she has held 170 visits with business, hospital and other groups in the last 18 months. She’s also hosted six telephone town halls that reached over 50,000 people, she said.

Osberg said he is doing all he can to meet directly with people: He estimates he’s personally met more than 10,000 people since starting his campaign 19 months ago. While keeping his full-time job in rural development for Otter Tail County, Osberg said he’s put on over 49,000 miles and held over 330 events.

Osberg also called attention to his campaign’s “Fish Fry Town Halls” being hosted in each of the district’s counties. Thirty have been held, with eight to go before Election Day, he said.

Asked their thoughts on winning, Fischbach said she will continue to be out “talking to folks and working hard and see it to the end.”

Osberg said he’s asking supporters to be “multipliers” by helping him win support from friends. “I like our chances. We’re in a good spot,” he said.