ST. PETER, Minn. -- Republican Allen Quist has declared himself a candidate in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, hoping to knock of Democratic Rep. Tim Walz.
Quist announced his campaign Wednesday night and planned to hold a launch event Thursday. The district covers a wide swath of southern Minnesota.
Quist is a former state representative who served three terms, ending in 1988. He also ran for governor twice, including a 1994 campaign in which he gained the GOP endorsement but lost to incumbent Republican Gov. Arne Carlson in a primary.
Since his last race in 1998, Quist has spent his time working on the family farm in St. Peter and was a teacher at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
Walz is midway through his second term. Other Republicans are considering running as well.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
