Breaking news: Randy Demmer to enter MN-01 congressional race on Tuesday, December 1

An email is circulating in Republican circles stating that State Representative Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, will be announcing his bid for the Republican endorsement for a second congressional bid in Rochester.

The email --which I have obtained through several sources--says:

Randy Demmer will be holding a press conference to announce his candidacy for the First District Congressional Race. If you are able to attend to show your support I know he would appreciate it.

8:30 AM
TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2009
ROTUNDA - GOVERNMENT CENTER
ROCHESTER, MN

Bluestem has called Representative Demmer seeking comment.

Demmer sought his party's endorsement in 2008, but lost to Rochester physician Brian Davis on the first ballot during the congressional district convention. Demmer had agreed to abide by the party's endorsement; he ran again for his state house seat and won handily. Davis defeated a primary challenge by state Senator Dick Day (R-Owatonna), but was handily defeated in the general election, garnering only 32.9 percent of the vote.

Demmer's 2008 campaign committee has remained active with the FEC. According to its last quarterly report, the committee remains $135,150.00 in debt and had $132.25 cash on hand.

Earlier this month, former state representative Allen Quist declared his candidacy; Bluestem Prairie was first to report that Quist was gearing up for a bid when we reported the news on October 12.

Will Demmer's announcement on Tuesday morning draw more media and supporters in the Rochester area than Quist's press conference earlier this month?

I have to check with sources across the district, but Demmer's entrance into the race confirms reports from district activists from both parties that while many in the district's deeply conservative activist base are energized by Quist's bid, others are not so happy. This fracture runs along geographic (Rochester area vs more rual areas traditional business Republicans vs. Tea Party and Liberty caucus activists (though this too divides along geographic lines) and other fault lines.