MN-1: First Poll

Republican Jim Hagedorn (R) lost the second-closest congressional race of 2016, falling to Rep. Tim Walz (D-Mankato), 50.3 – 49.6%.   Mr. Hagedorn is back for his third consecutive congressional run but, in 2018, this time the seat is open.   A new poll released on Friday posts him to a robust Republican primary lead over state Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester).  
 
Harper Polling, surveying for the Hagedorn Campaign (2/19-20; 412 MN-1 likely Republican primary voters), finds the previous Republican nominee leading Sen. Nelson, 54-21%, in a hypothetical GOP primary vote.  Though Minnesota candidates typically abide by the state party endorsement convention results, Sen. Nelson recently said that she would take the race to an August 14th primary should the convention delegates side with Mr. Hagedorn. 
 
At this point, it looks like Jim Hagedorn is well on his way to capturing the Republican nomination no matter the electoral format.  With Rep. Walz running for Governor, this open seat general election campaign will be highly competitive.

--Jim Ellis