Rep. Collin Peterson says he'll seek a 16th term in Congress

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson said Friday that he will seek a 16th term to represent a western Minnesota district that’s the most heavily pro-Trump of any House seat held by a Democrat anywhere.

His decision sets up what’s sure to be one of the most closely watched House races in the 2020 elections. The likely Republican nominee is former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach. She already has strong support from key national GOP leaders who see the race as one of their best pickup opportunities.

Peterson, a national figure as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has relied on his influence on farm policy and his willingness to buck his party to hang on in a district that President Donald Trump carried by 31 percentage points. The conservative Democrat's once-solid margins have narrowed in recent elections as the 7th District has swung toward the GOP.

“This wasn’t an easy decision for me because our country is so polarized right now, but that’s also why I want to ask the voters of western Minnesota to support me again," Peterson said in a statement. "There aren’t many like me left in Congress. Rural Democrats are few and far between and I’m concerned that rural America is getting left behind.”