Feehan announces rematch against Hagedorn

Democrat Dan Feehan has announced his candidacy for Minnesota’s First Congressional seat, setting up a rematch against Republican Jim Hagedorn.

Feehan, an Iraq War veteran and former teacher, launched his campaign on Tuesday with the message: “We’re better than this.” In a video released on social media, Feehan called it a “disgrace” that southern Minnesota is now being represented by Hagedorn, who is halfway through his first term in office. Feehan came within 1,300 votes of Hagedorn in the 2018 election.

“I am disappointed and, frankly, disturbed by the way he has conducted himself,” Feehan said of Hagedorn, according to a report from Feehan’s hometown newspaper, the Mankato Free Press. “The people have not come first, the corporations do with him as representative.”

In addition to their policy differences, Feehan also attacked Hagedorn for “spreading hate and division in our communities.”

Since arriving in Washington, Hagedorn has branded himself as a staunch ally of President Trump. As a member of the minority party, however, Hagedorn has been unable to put his rhetoric into action.

The race for the First Congressional District was one of the most competitive in the nation in 2018. It is a district that Trump won by 15 points, but also one that had been represented by a Democrat (Tim Walz, who is now the state’s governor) for the previous 12 years.

We will have much more on this race between now and next November.