ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Candidates have begun filing to run for elected positions ranging from the Minnesota Legislature to the U.S. Congress.

The filing period for the 2012 election opened Tuesday at the Secretary of State’s office and continues through June 5.

Early filers include state Rep. Joyce Peppin, a Republican from Rogers who is seeking a fifth term. Frequent candidate Dick Franson submitted his name as a primary challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Also filing paperwork was Republican state Sen. Mike Parry of Waseca, who hopes to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in southeastern Minnesota’s 1st District. But Parry may face a GOP primary after he and former state Rep. Allen Quist battled to a draw in an endorsing convention in April. Quist has two weeks to file.

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