MARSHALL — Endorsing conventions for Minnesota’s Congressional District 7 brought hundreds of people to southwest Minnesota over the weekend. Organizers said more than 500 people attended the Republican endorsing convention in Marshall on Saturday, where Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-MN, received the endorsement.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party also held its CD 7 endorsing convention on Saturday in Granite Falls. DFL delegates endorsed candidate Erik Osberg, of Wadena, to run against Fischbach.

CD 7 Republican chair Tiffany Lesmeister-Knott said convention attendance in Marshall included delegates and alternates, legislators, local and statewide Republican candidates. The event was held at the Southwest Minnesota State University conference center.

“It is always great to see everyone from across the district, as well as so many statewide candidates, attend the convention,” Lesmeister-Knott said. “I am encouraged to see the delegation come together and endorse a strong candidate.”

Lesmeister-Knott also said it was “an honor” for CD 7 Republicans to partner with the Lyon County Republicans to host the district convention in Marshall for the first time.

Fischbach received the CD 7 Republican endorsement after multiple rounds of voting by delegates, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. Fischbach was being challenged by Republican candidate Dave Hughes, of Karlstad.

Hughes has run in CD 7 in the past, including in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

A news release from the CD 7 Republicans said convention business also included approving resolutions for consideration for the state party platform. A voter outreach training led by Anthony Kern of Turning Point Action was held Friday before the convention.

On Saturday, candidates shared their reactions to the CD 7 endorsements. In a video posted on Facebook by the Lyon County Republicans, Fischbach made some brief comments to delegates after receiving the endorsement.

“I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support,” Fischbach said. “What’s most important here is, we are going to beat the Democrats in November.”

Fischbach encouraged CD 7 Republicans to “go forward united” to victory at the polls.

Erik Osberg also shared his response to the DFL endorsement in a post on his campaign’s Facebook page.

“I am humbled and honored by the support,” Osberg’s post said. “Our task now becomes uniting western Minnesota in the common cause of restoring our representation at the federal level. Forever grateful for all the hard work so many people are putting in to this campaign.”