State Sen. Dick Day of Owatonna has decided to not participate in the Republican endorsement process and instead will challenge the endorsed GOP candidate in a primary election in the fall.

Day’s decision reverses his previous pledge to drop out of the race if Republican activists choose one of his GOP opponents at a 1st District endorsing convention on March 29. The announcement also means Republicans won’t have identified a challenger to Democratic Congressman Tim Walz of Mankato until Sept. 9 — more than five months after they expected to have made that decision and turned their focus to Walz, and less than two months before the general election.

Day’s GOP opponents, state Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield and Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis of Rochester, said Wednesday they will stick to their commitment to abide by the choice of the approximately 250 Republican delegates at the district convention in Albert Lea.

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