It looks like Randy Demmer's campaign to defeat Rep. Tim Walz in southern Minnesota has kicked off with their first substantial filing of the season, though Walz is also keeping a keen eye on his war chest.

Demmer announced Thursday that he has raised $300,000 since April, bringing his total take this cycle to just over $375,000. Walz responded with a $381,000 quarterly filing, pushing his total to about $1.4 million.

As for cash on hand, Walz has $856,000 compared with Demmer's $251,000.

Demmer's camp notes that their candidate raised almost the entire haul in the last 45 days of the quarter, evidence that their momentum has grown exponentially.

When Brian Davis made a move at Walz's seat in 2008, however, he had already amassed $494,000 by July (which included a $143,000 loan) with $381,000 cash on hand. Walz walked away with 62 percent of the vote.

But Demmer also enters the race with substantial name recognition because of his years in the Legislature, giving him a headstart compared with the Mayo doctor who took the GOP endorsement two years ago.

Political eyes around the state have their eyes trained on any movement in the First, since it has traditionally been one of the most moderate in Minnesota. The Cook Political Report rates the race as "Likely Democratic," but also gives the district a +1 Republican score on the Partisan Voting Index.