Military rules stop soldier's bid for Minn. House

A National Guard captain just back from Afghanistan says he has put his campaign for Minnesota House on hold out of concern that he could face military discipline.

Mark Martin says he was ordered to stop campaigning after filing as a Republican in a suburban Minneapolis district. He says he tried to remove his name from the ballot but missed the withdrawal deadline.

Martin has served 20 years in the Army and National Guard, including a deployment in Iraq with the Minnesota Red Bulls.

His suspended campaign could complicate Republicans' hopes to seize control of the House by leaving Democratic Rep. Sandra Peterson of New Hope without an opponent. Peterson is seeking a fourth term.

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