Michelle Fischbach

The editorial from Forum Communications endorsing my opponent describes a list of goals for rural Minnesota, then dismisses the work I’ve done to deliver on those goals.

The editorial claims that I avoid the people and press of this district. I have done more than 60 interviews with district media in the past 18 months, which is more than twice as many as my opponent. My virtual town halls, where I take unscripted questions from people across my district, have hosted more than 50,000 attendees. I have also done hundreds of in-person meetings with constituents both in the district and when they come to visit me while I’m working in Washington. Those conversations help me hear their concerns directly and make me a stronger representative in Congress.

The editorial also treats my service on the House Ways and Means Committee as evidence that I have turned away from the agricultural community. Committee assignments are one way to serve farmers; they are not the only way. Ways and Means works on trade and tax policy, both of which have a direct bearing on farm families and rural businesses. My work on Ways and Means produced tangible benefits for working families and rural businesses. It made the small-business deduction permanent, providing relief to family farms and main street businesses. It reduced the impact of the Death Tax on family farmers who are passing the farm on to the next generation. It increased the Child Tax Credit to as much as $2,200 per eligible child, and created deductions for qualified tips and overtime pay. These are enacted tax changes families and workers can use — not campaign promises.

On agriculture policy, results matter. Using my position on the House Rules Committee, I helped move the 2026 Farm, Food, and National Security Act, better known as the farm bill, through the House. I also introduced the bipartisan FARMER Act with Rep. Brad Finstad to make crop insurance more affordable and strengthen coverage options. Crop-insurance provisions advancing those goals were included in the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which became law. USDA has since implemented increased support for beginning farmers and expanded or improved coverage options, including higher premium support for Supplemental Coverage Option policies.

I helped lead a bipartisan effort to pass year-round E15 legislation in the House. The bill would give farmers a larger market for homegrown fuel while giving drivers another choice at the pump. I managed to pass this bill through the House even with some members of Republican leadership in the House opposing it.

While I realize that the Forum Editorial Board may disagree with some of my policy positions or my politics, the facts and the figures show that their attacks on my effectiveness and accessibility are truly unfounded.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach is running for re-election to serve Minnesota's 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Forum Communications Co. afforded Fischbach this response given the company's endorsement of her challenger.