One week before the Minnesota primary, Republican Brad Fenstad leads Democrat Jeff Ettinger in a special race to serve the remaining months of the current term of late Congressman Jim Hagedorn, according to the New survey by SurveyUSA And the ABC 6 News in Rochester.
The survey showed that 46% of respondents prefer Finstad compared to 38% in favor of Ettinger. 7% support other candidates, including two representing marijuana legalization parties, and 8% are undecided.
The race to complete the Hagedorn period is Just one stage of a complex race In Minnesota’s first congressional district. Finstad will also be on the ballot in the regular run primaries in 2022 for two full years. He will face fellow Republican Jeremy Monson, who Fenstad He was narrowly defeated in a special primary election in May.
“It’s about challenging the primary ballot as any voter in the history of Minnesota might have faced,” said Stephen Sheer, a political analyst at Carleton College. “I hope the voters of the 1st District will be able to understand that.”
It’s even possible that Finstad could beat Ettinger in the special election to spend the remainder of Hagedorn’s term and then lose to Munson in the primary and not be able to run for two full years.
Democrat Jeff Ettinger, left, and Republican Brad Fenstad, right, are vying to serve the remainder of the term of late 1st District Congressman Jim Hagedorn.
“One strange scenario is that Fenstad, the approved candidate, wins the remainder of Hegedorn’s term under the old county lines, but under the new county lines, on the same day, loses the primaries, so he can’t continue his term after the end,” Scheer said.
The new poll shows Finstad with an 8-point lead over Ettinger is a good sign for Finstad, but the next election will be with slightly different district boundaries making it hard to predict. Scheer says both Fenstad and Monson are well positioned to face the next showdown.
“Both Monson and Fenstad like parts of the district are in the state’s home,” Scheer said. “Monson is well funded. Finstad is well funded and has the party favor. This could be a very competitive race.”
Read the full survey results below:
