One Republican challenger is in, another is out in the 1st Congressional District.

Aaron Miller announced on Tuesday that he plans to seek the GOP nomination in the 1st Congressional District. The U.S. Army veteran is the second announced Republican challenger to DFL U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.

Miller, a two-term senator from Winona, had been considering a run for the seat after being approached by several "major players" in the district over the last several weeks. But with twin sons on the way and responsibilities to run his family's scrap metal processing business, Miller said Friday that "the timing just isn't right for Congress."

Miller, who lives in Winona and is serving his second term in the Senate, said he is considering a run for the seat after being approached by "more than one person and some major players" in the district. He plans to make his decision in the next few weeks in order "to be fair to everyone" considering a run for the seat.

Allen Quist plans to run in the GOP primary in the 1st Congressional District. Quist and state Sen. Mike Parry fought to a draw in an epic battle for the GOP endorsement earlier this month.

After more than 12 hours and 23 rounds of balloting, Republican activists in the 1st Congressional District adjourned their endorsing convention in stalemate, with GOPers deeply divided over whether state Sen. Mike Parry or former Rep. Allen Quist should carry the party's banner in the fall election.

After publicly considering running for Congress himself, Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski has endorsed Sen. Mike Parry's bid against DFL Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.

Brodkorb, who has been with the party since June 2009, announced his departure on his Facebook page on Monday. The move was out of necessity, Brodkorb notes. According to the bylaws of the Republican Party, he cannot support an unendorsed candidate while working for the state party.

Republican House Rep. Steve Drazkowski is not ruling out a run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in 2012.

Former Republican governors Al Quie and Arne Carlson both agree that they want Independence Party candidate Tom Horner in the governor's office next year, but they don't see eye-to-eye on who should sit in Congress represnting southern Minnesota.