Health care. Regulations. The size of government.

Those are some of the concerns Republican Jim Hagedorn said he has heard from Minnesotans as he campaigns around the state for the 1st District U.S. House of Representatives seat.

Hagedorn, a Blue Earth businessman, heard about some of the same concerns on Wednesday in Albert Lea, during a stop downtown as part of what he calls his Main Street campaign. He had stopped in Hope before traveling south to Albert Lea.

Whether he was walking down Broadway greeting passersby or going inside businesses, Hagedorn said the goal of his stop was to differentiate himself from other candidates and to talk with business owners and other everyday people.

“If you want to represent the people in the U.S. Congress, it’s your responsibility to get out and meet the people.”

Hagedorn will face off against Byron businessman Aaron Miller in the Aug. 12 primary election. Whoever wins that race will go on to face incumbent DFL U.S. House Rep. Tim Walz.

Hagedorn talked with Celebrations Party & Gifts employee Dawn Schreiber for a few minutes Wednesday afternoon, primarily about health care.

Schreiber, who sometimes votes for Republicans and other times for Democrats, said she works two jobs. One is at Celebrations and the other is at Hy-Vee. She said she was not pleased with Obamacare and asked for Hagedorn’s input on it.

“He sounds very nice if he can produce what he talks about what he’s going to do,” Schreiber said.