MINNEAPOLIS — Republican State Sen. Julianne Ortman, who has been considering a U.S. Senate campaign, is announcing her political plans on Saturday at an event in Waconia.

Ortman released details of the weekend event on Wednesday night. She has previously said she was weighing a bid against Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken, and has been considered likely to run.

Ortman has represented Carver County in the state Senate since 2002. She is a former deputy Senate leader and chairwoman of the powerful Taxes Committee.

Two other Republicans are vying to challenge Franken. They are Sunfish Lake businessman Mike McFadden and Anoka state Rep. Jim Abeler.

Ortman's Saturday event is at a park in downtown Waconia, a town west of Lake Minnetonka that's in Ortman's state Senate district.