Minnesota — 7th District

The race for the U.S. House in Minnesota’s 7th District pits longtime issue organizer Michelle Fischbach, a Republican from Regal seeking re-election, against Erik Osberg, a Democrat from Wadena.

Frankly, Fischbach has not represented the 7th District well. Her first priority remains toeing the party line in Washington rather than representing and supporting her district's people and businesses. Even some Republicans are concerned about Fischbach, as she faced multiple rounds in the 7th District Convention in April before winning the party‘s 2026 endorsement.

Osberg, while new to Minnesota politics, is a refreshing and enthusiastic voice for rural Minnesota. As an Otter Tail County economic development official, Osberg understands the challenges of the rural 7th District. He seeks innovative local solutions for key economic development issues, including housing, broadband and childcare.

Osberg gets agriculture, too. The industry needs federal policies that bring stability. If Osberg is elected on Nov. 3, he has stated his priority committee assignment request would be the House Agriculture Committee.

A graduate of Upsala Area School in Stearns County, Osberg earned a bachelor’s degree from Hamline University. He has worked as a sports journalist, a financial advisor and a small business owner. He has emphasized the importance of family, keeping Friday nights free during the campaign to attend his son’s football games.

Osberg has shown he knows how to work, too, holding more than 300 events and traveling more than 47,000 miles. Since March 2025, he has held “Fish Fry Town Hall” events in all 38 counties, often doing the cooking and serving himself. Osberg isn't afraid to talk to the media either; he met in person with the FCC Editorial Advisory Board on Oct. 8. He focused on his five-point plan: defending the Constitution, removing corporate money from politics, reforming healthcare, protecting federal funding for public education and supporting family farms.

Fischbach has worked hard to pass legislation supporting year-round nationwide sales of E15 fuels. However, many other agriculture sectors also need her focus: dairy, cattle, pork, corn, soybeans and sugar beets.

Sadly, Fischbach supports — or stays silent on — many recent administration moves that have harmed many farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. Unfortunately, those moves have harmed the economic stability that helps agriculture and the 7th District economy prosper.

The U.S. military operation in Iran has recently pushed oil prices to over $100 per barrel, which in turn has pushed diesel to a record high of $6.51 per gallon. Consumers are also reeling from gasoline’s national average of $4.48 per gallon. This conflict also significantly increased fertilizer prices.

At Farmfest, Fischbach defended the administration’s 2026 tariff policy as “leverage.” Her statement drew boos from farmers in the audience. She has supported a Congress that has effectively abandoned its role of controlling commerce and trade.

She left the House Agriculture Committee in January 2023 after she was appointed to the powerful House Ways & Means Committee. She claims the Ways & Means gave her a stronger platform to advocate for rural Minnesota. Former Congressperson Collin Peterson would never have agreed to abandoning the House Agriculture Committee.

Fischbach, who won her race convincingly in 2024, has maintained a low profile since she was primaried earlier in 2026, often giving public officials only one hour's notice before arriving. She avoids public announcements of her district appearances, so not all constituents have an equal or fair opportunity to meet her and discuss their concerns. She tends to avoid press coverage and interviews; however, she did recently interview with the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.

The mood of 7th District voters across the district’s 38 counties has shifted, especially among farmers and agribusinesspeople who have faced serious problems over the past two years. Our current representative Fischbach is not cutting it and is failing her 7th District constituents.

Osberg faces a challenging task in the 2026 campaign, but he is a credible, independent-minded candidate, and we believe he is the best choice for the district in 2026.

Voters can take a look themselves at 7 p.m. Thursday when Fischbach and Osberg appear on a nonprofit public television and radio station, Prairie Public. The debate will be available on public television’s YouTube channel, @PrairiePublic.

This endorsement was determined by the FCC Editorial Advisory Board based on news reporting, interviews, and other research. It was approved by FCC ownership.