Republican state Sen. Mike Parry announced Friday that he will challenge Democratic U.S. Rep Tim Walz in the 1st Congressional District.

"It's broke and I want to go fix it," Parry said of Congress. "The timing is right for me to get in."

Parry, 58, has been in the Legislature less than two years but already has established himself as

a force in the Senate, firmly among the new breed of unabashed conservative voices. Since Republicans took over control of the Senate last year, the rookie Legislator from Waseca became chairman of the State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee and pushed for deep cuts to state government.

Parry said he will bring that same small-government focus to Washington. He said Walz has lost touch with his district and is more interested in "being buddies with his Washington liberal friends."

Walz's campaign issued a statement after Parry's announcement: "Tim Walz is working hard for southern Minnesotans. He's focusing on creating jobs, getting our economy back on track and advocating for our nation's veterans."

Mike Parry

In the last election, Walz beat Republican Randy Demmer by 5 percentage points. Walz, a former school teacher, has served in Congress since 2006.

Parry, whose family owns a Godfather's Pizza in Waseca, is married and has two children.

The 1st Congressional District, which runs like a belt across the lower edge of the state, includes Rochester, Austin and Mankato.

To checkout his campaign website, go here.