ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The state Republican party has endorsed Lee Byberg to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson in the 7th District.

The party on Saturday called Byberg a “principled conservative leader” who will work hard to rein in out-of-control government spending.

A message left with a Peterson spokeswoman was not immediately returned.

Byberg received the endorsement over state Sen. Gretchen Hoffman. She says she’ll campaign on shrinking the federal government and repealing President Barack Obama’s health care law.

Byberg ran and lost against Peterson in 2010.

The 7th District covers much of western Minnesota. That includes the cities of Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Crookston, Willmar and Marshall.

Peterson is a conservative Democrat first elected in 1990. He has generally been re-elected by wide margins despite being in a largely conservative district.

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