U.S. House, Minnesota 7th Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District?
Michelle Fischbach has the strongest record in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District. Michelle Fischbach scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Erik Osberg at 64, as of October 5, 2026. Michelle Fischbach's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Erik Osberg's highest marks are roots in the constituency and accountability. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Michelle Fischbach
68 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 45
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 75
DFL
Erik Osberg
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Michelle Fischbach
- Mark against2021-01-06
On Jan. 6 and 7, 2021 she voted Yea on the objections to counting the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania; both objections failed, 121 to 303 and 138 to 282.
Sources: Clerk of the House, Roll Call 10, 117th Congress, Clerk of the House, Roll Call 11, 117th Congress, Official statement, Jan. 6, 2021, Ballotpedia
- On the record2025-03-17
MinnPost reported on March 17, 2025 that she had declined to host town hall meetings; her newsletter reported a telephone town hall with over 13,500 constituents in February 2026.
Sources: MinnPost, March 17, 2025, Official newsletter, Feb. 18, 2026
- On the record2018-01-03
She became lieutenant governor by succession on Jan. 3, 2018, declined the salary, did not take the oath and kept her Senate seat, then resigned the seat and took the oath on May 25, 2018.
Sources: MPR News, Jan. 3, 2018, MPR News, Jan. 12, 2018, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, legislator record
- On the record2018-02-12
A constituent's suit to remove her from the Senate was dismissed on Feb. 12, 2018, the judge ruling the court lacked jurisdiction; a second suit had not been heard when she resigned the seat.
Where it stands: Closed. Ramsey County Chief Judge John Guthmann dismissed the first suit on Feb. 12, 2018. A second suit was set for a June 2018 hearing and was reported as being dropped after she resigned the Senate seat on May 25, 2018. No court ruling on whether she could hold both offices was found.
Sources: Associated Press, published by CBS Minnesota, Feb. 12, 2018, MinnPost, Feb. 13, 2018, MPR News, May 25, 2018, Forum News Service, published by Duluth News Tribune, May 25, 2018
- Credit2021 to 2026
GovTrack records that she missed 9 of 2,915 House roll call votes, 0.3 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack member page
- Credit2017-05-30
She was first-named author of the 2017 omnibus higher education appropriations bill, Senate File 943, which the governor approved on May 30, 2017 as Chapter 89.
- Credit2011
She served as President of the Minnesota Senate in the 2011 to 2012 and 2017 to 2018 sessions and was the first woman to hold the post.
Source: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, legislator record
- Credit117th and 118th Congresses
GovTrack lists four enacted bills with her as primary sponsor, three in the 117th Congress and one in the 118th; each names a Minnesota post office.
Source: GovTrack member page
Erik Osberg
- Credit2023-10-14
"Rural By Choice," an Otter Tail County docuseries he produced with host Cory Hepola, won the Upper Midwest Regional Emmy for Lifestyle Long Form Content on Oct. 14, 2023.
Sources: Perham Focus, Oct. 27, 2023, Upper Midwest Emmys, 2023 nominees and recipients
- Credit2020-02
In February 2020, Otter Tail County received Explore Minnesota's Only in MN Tourism Trailblazer Award for the Rural Rebound marketing campaign he coordinates.
Sources: Otter Tail County news release, published by Voice of Alexandria, Feb. 29, 2020, The Daily Yonder, July 23, 2020
- Credit2017-01
Otter Tail County selected him in January 2017 as its first Rural Rebound Initiative coordinator, a grant-funded two-year post that the county later kept.
Sources: Wadena Pioneer Journal, Jan. 20, 2017, The Daily Yonder, July 23, 2020
- Credit2010 to 2011
He was president of the Wadena Area Chamber of Commerce in 2010 and vice president in May 2011, when he testified that local government aid helped Wadena respond to the June 2010 tornado.
Sources: Wadena Pioneer Journal, Sept. 10, 2010, Wadena Pioneer Journal, May 22, 2011
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michelle Fischbach. Annual financial disclosure reports are on file with the House Clerk for filing years 2021 through 2025. An FEC administrative fines search for her name returns no results. No House Ethics Committee finding against her was located.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, annual report, FEC administrative fines search, House Committee on Ethics site search
Erik Osberg. FEC campaign finance reports are on file through the 2026 pre-primary report. An FEC administrative fines search for his name returns no results.
Sources: FEC committee filings, Erik Osberg for Congress, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michelle Fischbach. Clerk Roll Call 350 (July 14, 2022) records her voting Nay on passage of the fiscal 2023 defense authorization. Republican leaders McCarthy and Scalise voted Yea. Republicans split 149 Yea to 62 Nay.
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michelle Fischbach. Took part in the Aug. 4, 2026 Farmfest candidate forum with her opponent and is scheduled for the Oct. 15 Prairie Public debate. Her office reported a telephone town hall with over 13,500 constituents in February 2026.
Sources: West Central Tribune (Agweek), Farmfest forum report, West Central Tribune, debate announcement, Official newsletter, Feb. 18, 2026
Erik Osberg. Took part in the Aug. 4, 2026 Farmfest candidate forum and is scheduled for the Oct. 15 Prairie Public debate. Holds free public town halls under a pledge to hold one in every county of the district.
Sources: Wahpeton Daily News report, published by Fergus Falls Journal, West Central Tribune (Agweek), Farmfest forum report, West Central Tribune, debate announcement
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michelle Fischbach. Has held public office since 1996: Minnesota Senate, including as Senate President, Lieutenant Governor, and U.S. House since 2021. No formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding was located on the House Ethics Committee site.
Sources: Official House biography, House Committee on Ethics site search
Erik Osberg. Works as Otter Tail County's Rural Rebound Initiative coordinator and earlier worked in banking and financial services. No formal conduct finding was located.
Sources: MinnPost, KAXE 2026 Election Guide, candidate questionnaire
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michelle Fischbach. Clerk Roll Call 10 (Jan. 6, 2021, 121 to 303) and Roll Call 11 (Jan. 7, 2021, 138 to 282), "On Agreeing to the Objection", record her voting Yea. Ballotpedia identifies them as the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral objections.
Sources: Clerk of the House, Roll Call 10, 117th Congress, Clerk of the House, Roll Call 11, 117th Congress, Ballotpedia
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michelle Fischbach. In her third term in this office, serving since Jan. 3, 2021. Earlier served in the Minnesota Senate from 1996 to 2018, including as Senate President, and as Lieutenant Governor.
Sources: GovTrack member page, Official House biography
Erik Osberg. First run for public office. Career in banking, financial services, media and small business, and currently Otter Tail County's Rural Rebound Initiative coordinator.
Sources: Wadena Pioneer Journal report, published by Echo Press, Wahpeton Daily News report, published by Fergus Falls Journal
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michelle Fischbach. Chairs the Rules Committee's Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House and sits on Ways and Means (Trade and Oversight subcommittees). Her questionnaire answers name specific measures, including the 199A deduction and year-round E-15.
Sources: House Committee on Rules, subcommittees page, KAXE 2026 Election Guide, candidate questionnaire, Official House site, committees
Erik Osberg. Publishes 15 issue pages with specific federal proposals, including a constitutional amendment on Citizens United, a ban on stock trading by members of Congress, and antitrust enforcement in agricultural markets.
Sources: Campaign site, money in politics page, Campaign site, agriculture page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michelle Fischbach. Answered the KAXE 2026 candidate questionnaire, publishes a regular constituent newsletter, reported a telephone town hall in February 2026, and took part in the Farmfest forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: KAXE 2026 Election Guide, Official House site, newsletters, Ballotpedia
Erik Osberg. Answered the KAXE 2026 candidate questionnaire, posts weekly campaign updates, holds public town halls and took part in the Farmfest forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: KAXE 2026 Election Guide, Campaign site, updates page, Ballotpedia
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michelle Fischbach. Lives in Regal, in the Paynesville area, served on the Paynesville city council and was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1996. FEC by-state table for 2025 to 2026: Minnesota $328,509 of $521,792 in itemized individual contributions, 63 percent.
Sources: Official House biography, Ballotpedia, FEC candidate page, individual contributions by state
Erik Osberg. Reported as a Wadena resident for about two decades. FEC by-state table for 2025 to 2026: Minnesota $175,429 of $188,881 in itemized individual contributions, 93 percent.
Sources: Wadena Pioneer Journal report, published by Echo Press, FEC candidate page, individual contributions by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michelle Fischbach. All seven regular FEC reports for the 2025 to 2026 cycle were filed on or before their due dates. An FEC administrative fines search for her name returns no results.
Sources: FEC committee filings, Fischbach for Congress, FEC administrative fines search
Erik Osberg. All seven original regular FEC reports for the 2025 to 2026 cycle were filed on or before their due dates. An FEC administrative fines search for his name returns no results.
Sources: FEC committee filings, Erik Osberg for Congress, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michelle Fischbach. Center for Effective Lawmaking, 118th Congress: Legislative Effectiveness Score 1.057 against a benchmark of 1.460, marked as meeting expectations, party rank 127 of 228. Four bills enacted as sponsor, all post office designations.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, Find Legislators (118th Congress, House, MN), GovTrack member page
Erik Osberg. In his county role he co-produced the docuseries "Rural By Choice", which won a regional Emmy award in 2023.
Source: MinnPost
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michelle Fischbach. GovTrack lifetime record: missed 9 of 2,915 roll call votes, 0.3 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michelle Fischbach. Two district offices, in Moorhead and Willmar, with federal agency casework offered. Staff hold mobile office hours around the district, reported as monthly, including Warroad on June 26, 2026.
Sources: Official House site, office locations, Wahpeton Daily News report, posted on official House site, Official press release, June 5, 2026
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michelle Fischbach. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index, latest published House scores (2023, 118th Congress): score -0.91736, rank 311 of 436 scored members.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House scores
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michelle Fischbach. No public record found.
Erik Osberg. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District?
Michelle Fischbach has the strongest record in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District. Michelle Fischbach scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Erik Osberg at 64, as of October 5, 2026. Michelle Fischbach's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Erik Osberg's highest marks are roots in the constituency and accountability. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District in 2026?
Michelle Fischbach (Republican, incumbent), Erik Osberg (DFL). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michelle Fischbach a good candidate for Congress?
Michelle Fischbach scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 45 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Erik Osberg a good candidate for Congress?
Erik Osberg scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Minnesota race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Minnesota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.