Plymouth businesswoman announces run in 3rd Congressional District

Plymouth businesswoman Sharon Sund on Thursday launched another campaign against Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen in Minnesota's 3rd District.

Sund, the Hennepin County DFL chair, dropped her 2012 campaign against Paulsen after losing the DFL endorsement. This time she is the only Democrat aiming to oust Paulsen from the seat, which represents the western Twin Cities metro area suburbs.

In announcing her campaign outside a church in Plymouth, Sund criticized Paulsen for supporting what she called "endless cuts" to federal programs and his brinksmanship over budget matters.

"I want us to reinvest in our children, our seniors and our families and our small businesses," she said.

Sund has said that she will abide by the endorsement process if more Democrats join the race.

"I'm running for Congress because Minnesota families deserve a thriving economy that rewards hard work and innovation," she said. "But with Erik Paulsen that's not happening. Instead, what we're getting is government shutdown tactics and endless cuts."

Paulsen, who is running for his fourth term, won his 2012 re-election bid by more than 15 percentage points even though President Barack Obama narrowly prevailed over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the 3rd district.