Trump, national Democrats making big last-minute ad buys in race between Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson

WASHINGTON — Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher who has never held political office, has shaken the political dynamics in southern Minnesota and attracted a last-minute infusion of $2.2 million of help from the Democratic Party.

The Republican who represents the area in Congress, Rep. Brad Finstad, is suddenly playing defense. A political action committee linked to President Donald Trump rushed to his aid with its own $1.2 million ad buy.

The largely rural 1st Congressional District was not expected to be in play this year. But it is and the race for its seat has attracted millions of dollars in outside spending.

Johnson, 43, remains an underdog. Finstad, who has represented the 1^st District since 2022, is favored to win reelection in a district once rated “Solid Republican&r...