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Another Democrat has entered the race to succeed U.S. Representative Tim Walz in the First Congressional District.

Colin Minehart of Albert Lea said Tuesday he has a lifetime of experience to put to use in Washington. Minehart is a former business owner who had been active for years in the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association. He ran for the state Legislature in the early 1980s, but has never held office.

Minehart said he'd be a consensus builder in Washington.

"No one person goes into Congress and starts melting that glacier hiding underneath that swamp that Trump tried to drain," Minehart said. "You have to go in and try to build coalitions to get things done."

Sen. Vicki Jensen of Owatonna is also seeking the DFL nomination

. Jim Hagedorn is the sole announced Republican after also having run in 2014 and 2016.

Walz is leaving Congress to run for governor.

Minehart didn't commit to leaving the race ahead of the 2018 primary if another candidate wins the DFL endorsement at a spring party convention.

He said he is inclined to abide, but "if I see something where we think that the fix is in, the candidate is pre-chosen kind of like we had in our presidential race, then I reserve the right to take it to the voters of Minnesota."

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brian Bakst

Author

Another DFL candidate announces candidacy for open southern Minnesota congressional seat the party is trying to hold after Rep. Tim Walz's departure.

Minehart makes 1st District congressional bid

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