Terry Kelley, who had first announced his candidacy for the District 27 Senate seat as a Democrat, filed for the office under the Independence Party banner Wednesday.

Kelley, of Austin, had lost the DFL’s endorsement for the seat to Austin banker Dan Sparks. Both hope to defeat Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea.

&uot;The two-party system has gotten too extreme and they have really left out the people in the middle,&uot; Kelley said.

Also this week, another Austin resident, Jennifer Ney,

filed for the seat under the IP. A primary Sept. 10 will decide who ends up on the general-election ballot for the Independence Party.