Nelson says she won't run for First District congressional seat

State Sen. Carla Nelson will not seek the congressional seat left vacant in the wake of the death of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn.

The Rochester Republican put away the speculation on Monday, telling reporters her intention is to run for the new Minnesota Senate 24 seat.

“I just feel like I can do more and I can serve more in the Minnesota Legislature,” said Nelson, via reporter Brian Bakst of MPR News.

The Rochester lawmaker had been considered one of the leading candidates for the seat ahead of an upcoming special election.

Nelson ran against Hagedorn in the Republican primary for the First Congressional seat in 2018, finishing in a distant second place.

Hagedorn, who was in his second term representing southern Minnesota, died last Thursday following a two-year battle with kidney cancer.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.