Arwood, Hernandez drop bids to challenge Klobuchar

St. Bonifacius City Councilman Joe Arwood and St. Paul businessman Anthony Hernandez have ended their bids for the Republican nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar this fall.

The announcements, both made Monday, came less than a week after Republican war veteran Pete Hegseth said he was entering the race. Hernandez, according to Minnesota Public Radio, will look to challenge U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and abide by the party’s endorsement in the 4th Congressional District.

Just two official candidates — not counting Hegseth, whose paperwork has yet to be officially filed and processed — remain in the contest for the Republican nomination to challenge Klobuchar. Former State Rep. Dan Severson remains in the race, as does Republican Harold Shudlick, who lost the GOP endorsement to Mark Kennedy in 2006.

Republicans in Minnesota and Washington alike have had a challenge in recruiting candidates to take on the popular Klobuchar. She has had among the highest approval ratings of any sitting Senator in a Congress that has seen historically low approval.

Political handicappers have painted it an uphill battle for any candidate hoping to unseat the state’s senior senator come November.