ST. PAUL  — A U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq said he wants to be the Republican opponent to Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Pete Hegseth said he will officially launch a campaign next week. The 31-year-old Forest Lake resident has never run for political office but served as executive director of Vets for Freedom, a national group that’s now inactive but which supported former President George W. Bush’s surge in Iraq.

There are three other Republicans vying to challenge Klobuchar. They are St. Bonifacius City Councilmember Joe Arwood, St. Paul businessman Anthony Hernandez and former state representative Dan Severson. So far, GOP activists have not rallied around any of the contenders.

Hegseth said he knows Republicans face an uphill battle against the popular Klobuchar.