As one ex-Senator says he won't run in the race that he was never even in, another ex-Senator says he'll announce his candidacy for a race he's been in since 2009.

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, a Democrat, has a Wednesday morning Capitol news conference to "publicly announce his candidacy for governor of Minnesota." He'll also be kicking off a 87 county tour of Minnesota. (Note the color symbolism on the map: Dayton has the counties he plans to visit in red and the counties he has visited in blue.)

Dayton, who has been running for the office since last January, will run in a primary and plans to forego having his name included in both a Feb. 2 straw poll at the statewide caucuses and in nomination during the party's April convention.

Early this month, the former Senator told DFL party chair Brian Melendez of his decision to skip the poll early .

In an email to Melendez, Dayton said, "After the opportunity to consult yesterday with close friends and advisors, I do not submit my name for the DFL's precinct caucus straw ballot. This decision is consistent with my long-stated position that I will run directly in this year's DFL gubernatorial primary, reflecting my belief that in a democracy all the people should decide who their leaders will be."

He said because he plans to run in a primary, regardless of delegates endorsement decision, "many delegates will not consider me either for their support in the straw poll or their endorsement at the state convention. Therefore, it is advisable that I do not place my name on either of those ballots."