NEW BRIGHTON — A Republican commissioner from northern Minnesota’s St. Louis County is officially launching his bid to be the GOP’s candidate for U.S. Senate.

Chris Dahlberg of Duluth was set to his campaign today on the front porch of a home in the Twin Cities suburb of New Brighton. He signaled his candidacy last month but held off from formally entering the race until closer to his planned Oct. 1 retirement from the U.S. Army Reserve.

Dahlberg is chairman of the St. Louis County Board, and said his experience as a Republican in a strongly Democratic part of the state would make him a good candidate to challenge the incumbent Democrat, Sen. Al Franken.

Other Republican candidates include state Sen. Julianne Ortman, state Rep. Jim Abeler and businessman Mike McFadden.