Minnesota Representatives Brad Finstad, Pete Stauber, and Michelle Fischbach have expressed support for the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to access Minnesota voter rolls. The move comes after Governor Tim Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon declined a DOJ request for the data on January 2, 2026.
The issue follows reports that Republican lawmakers in Minnesota obtained Hennepin County’s master voter list, which raised concerns about the integrity of voting in the state’s largest county.
In a letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the members of Congress stated that not providing these records could indicate noncompliance with federal election laws. They argued that reviewing voter roll data is necessary to assess election integrity and ensure adherence to federal standards.
“I am proud to support efforts that demand election integrity and ensure Minnesota is meeting its obligations under federal law. Since Minnesota receives federal election funds, the state should be willing to provide basic records that verify the integrity of its voter rolls and election processes,” said Rep. Finstad. “Given the serious fraud we’ve seen in many programs administered by Minnesota, the refusal by Gov. Walz and Secretary Simon to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s efforts to increase transparency only raises more concerns. My colleagues and I will continue fighting to ensure federal elections within the state of Minnesota are conducted with honesty, accuracy, and trust.”
Brad Finstad has represented Minnesota’s 1st district in Congress since 2022, succeeding Jim Hagedorn. He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 and was born in New Ulm, where he currently resides.
