Erik Osberg

Osberg graduated from Upsala Area Schools in central Minnesota and earned a college degree from Hamline University.[3] He played football at Hamline, according to his candidate survey response for KAXE.[11] According to his campaign website, he has worked in the financial sector, public sector, media and the trades and was a small business owner; he describes himself as a husband, father and working-class Minnesotan.[2][1] He has lived in Wadena for about two decades and, as of March 2025, worked as the Rural Rebound Initiative coordinator for Otter Tail County; KAXE describes him as leading the county's economic development program.[3][4]

Osberg announced his campaign for Minnesota's 7th District on March 11, 2025, at the Wadena Depot, in his first run for public office.[3] He describes himself as "a rural candidate for a rural district," running to represent western Minnesota.[1] On August 11, 2026, he won the Democratic primary with about two-thirds of the vote against Steve Carlson.[4] During the campaign, he emphasized rural healthcare, agriculture, public education and reducing corporate influence in politics.[1][2][3][4] Osberg received 35.0% of the vote to Michelle Fischbach's 64.9%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[5]