Owatonna, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former State Senator from Owatonna is the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign to succeed First District Congressman Tim Walz.

Vicki Jensen is an independent insurance agent who represented areas of Steele, Dodge, Rice and Waseca Counties in the State Senate from 2013 through last year. She was defeated by Republican John Jasinki in her bid for a second term last fall.

Congressman Walz previously announced he would be seeking to succeed fellow Democrat Mark Dayton as Minnesota’s next Governor in the 2018 election. Republican Jim Hagedorn, who came close to beating Walz in the First District Congressional race last year, previously announced his intentions to run for the office next year.

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