Incumbent Michelle Fischbach (R) and Steve Boyd (R) are running in the Republican primary in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District

Incumbent Michelle Fischbach (R) and Steve Boyd (R) are running in the Republican primary in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District on Aug. 13, 2024.

The primary is taking place after the state Republican Party declined to endorse either Fischbach or Boyd at its nominating convention. According to MinnPost, Boyd’s status as “an outsider who promises to shake up the system and join Congress’s rebellious Freedom Caucus” influenced the party’s decision not to endorse. Former President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Fischbach on Mar. 21, 2024, ahead of the April 2024 state party convention.

Fischbach was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020 after earlier serving two decades in state government, including as lieutenant governor. Fischbach is running on her record and former President Trump’s endorsement, saying she has a 100% record with National Right to Life and “A” ratings with the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.

Boyd is a small business owner who works with Safe Families for Children, a family support organization, and Patriot Academy, a civics education organization. Boyd says he is running “not out of a desire for power, but a desire to be a catalyst for the change we need at every level and a willingness to stand on those principles, regardless of consequence or outcome.”

As of Aug. 5, 2024, four independent election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Republican. In 2022, Fischbach defeated Jill Absahain (D) 66.9% to 27.6%.

All 435 seats are up for election. Republicans have a 220 to 213 majority with two vacancies. As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 65.7%-32.5%.