ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Republican Kurt Zellers, a former House speaker now running for governor, will not run for another term in the House.

Zellers announced his decision Monday. He has represented the Twin Cities suburbs of Maple Grove and Osseo in the state House since 2003.

Last year, Zellers launched a bid to challenge Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton this November. He's one among a crowded field of Republicans seeking to unseat Dayton, and Zellers' plan to run in August's Republican primary would have complicated a simultaneous state House re-election bid.

The Maple Grove resident is a former Republican media strategist who shifted into lawmaking. He served as House speaker in 2011 and 2012, but returned to the rank and file after his party lost its majority in the 2012 election.

 

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