Erik Osberg

Erik Osberg is a Wadena resident and Otter Tail County economic development employee running as the Democratic nominee against incumbent Michelle Fischbach in his first run for public office. According to his campaign, he has worked in the financial sector, public sector, media, trades and as a small business owner. He is campaigning on rural healthcare, agriculture, public education and reducing corporate influence in politics.[1][2][3][4]

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.[5] 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]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.