Former Republican 1st District Congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn announced Tuesday he plans to run for office a second time in 2016 against Democratic U.S. House Rep. Tim Walz.

Hagedorn, a Blue Earth resident and former U.S. Treasury official, received about 45 percent of the votes in the November 2014 general election, compared to Walz, who received about 55 percent.

A news release sent out by Hagedorn’s campaign said Hagedorn earned the highest vote percentage against Walz since the congressman was first elected in 2006. Walz has served five terms.

“I’m enthusiastically entering the race and will be working full time to replace Tim Walz and bring a conservative, common-sense voice to Congress,” Hagedorn said in the release. “My Minnesota farm roots and first-hand knowledge of how Washington, D.C., functions and dysfunctions will help me faithfully represent the views and interests of southern Minnesota.”

Hagedorn said his campaign will focus on four key areas:

• Defending the United States from Islamic jihadists

• Unleashing the economy and creating opportunity for working Americans

• Sustaining U.S. agriculture, family farmers and the rural way of life

• Protecting the U.S. Constitution, America’s borders and small-town values.

He plans to continue the town-to-town campaign he completed in 2014 and said he has a larger campaign team and stronger fundraising than last time.

Walz is a former high school teacher and retired command sergeant major in the National Guard. He’s been a leading Democrat in the House on veterans and agricultural issues.

He could not be reached for comment as of press time.