Randy DemmerState Rep. Randy Demmer (R-Hayfield) will be challenging U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in the First Congressional District, according to an email obtained over the weekend by Bluestem Prairie.

The email states that Demmer, who was elected to the state House in 2002, will announce at a Tuesday morning press conference in Rochester that he’s in the race. It’s his second shot at the seat; he ran for the GOP endorsement in 2008, but lost to Brian Davis. Walz won with more than 62 percent of the vote.

Demmer will join Allen Quist, former state senator, in the race, but the seat seems pretty safe for Walz: CQ Politics continues to rate it as “likely Democratic.”

Rep. Demmer was unavailable for comment.