Democrat Dan Feehan, an Army veteran who taught grade school and served as a defense official in the Obama administration, is running for Congress again in southern Minnesota.

Feehan, who launched his 2020 campaign for the 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, will seek a rematch with Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, whom he lost to by a half-percentage point in 2018. Their first contest was for an open seat that Tim Walz left for his successful run for governor.

With Feehan’s entry, Minnesota’s 2020 races for Congress are coming into view. The state’s most competitive races will be in rural and suburban districts, and political strategists from both parties are keen on their chances to flip a seat.

In an interview with the Pioneer Press Tuesday, Feehan pointed most of his comments toward Hagedorn, saying the Republican does not have “an independent thought” or position. He jabbed Hagedorn for arguing with constituents during town halls and supporting a U.S.-China trade war that has squeezed farmers in his district.

“The idea of leadership has to be one in which people come first,” Feehan said. “When it comes to Jim Hagedorn, the consequences of him in office, he’s well-known for the things he says but it’s the things he has done and his lack of leadership that has demonstrated people coming anything but first.”

Hagedorn has been a stalwart supporter of President Donald Trump. During a town hall meeting in La Crescent on Monday, he told constituents that Democrats are recklessly exploring impeachment of Trump for allegedly pressing Ukraine to investigate his political rival.

When asked where he stands on the issue of impeachment, Feehan sidestepped and said Hagedorn should be more engaged on the issue. But Feehan did say the allegation that Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden “could not be a more serious allegation in terms of the harm it could have for our foreign policy.”

Feehan said his main concern with impeachment is that it could steal the spotlight from important issues that voters care about, such as health care coverage and the rising costs of prescription drugs.

“That’s what I’m worried that any process would take away from,” Feehan said, though he noted that impeachment is “a process that’s already begun regardless of what I think about it.”

Hagedorn could not be reached for comment. But Minnesota Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan, who is married to Hagedorn, weighed in on Feehan’s announcement in a statement Tuesday.

“During 2018’s blue wave, voters in the First Congressional District rejected Dan Feehan and his socialist, far-left policies, but today he announced he’s back for round two,” Carnahan said. “Feehan would be better suited in returning to the swamp where he spent 20 years than another failed attempt at pushing his progressive policies in Southern Minnesota.”

Feehan earned a Bronze Star for his service in the Iraq war. He taught middle school math after leaving the Army and later became acting assistant secretary of defense in the Obama administration.

OTHER COMPETITIVE RACES

The rematch between Feehan and Hagedorn will likely be one of the most competitive and closely watched races in the country.

A few other Minnesota congressional races may also get some attention.

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Lakeland mayor fined $250 over missing disclaimer on campaign material In the 7th District of northwestern Minnesota, two Republicans — former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach and two-time challenger Dave Hughes — are vying to unseat longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson. Peterson has held onto his seat for years even though the district has swung more Republican — Trump won the 7th District by more than 30 percentage in 2016.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips, who represent the suburban 2nd and 3rd Districts, respectively, already have Republican challengers. Former Michigan lawmaker Rick Olson will challenge Craig and Medina businessman Kendall Qualls is seeking Phillips’ seat. The two districts have also grown more competitive in recent years; Craig and Phillips defeated Republican incumbents in 2018 to flip the seats.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.