Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to make his first Minnesota campaign stop on Wednesday.

The former New York City mayor plans to visit a soybean farm near the southern Minnesota town of Wells to talk to voters about rural economic issues, according to his campaign. The stop is part of a Midwest campaign swing meant to highlight his agenda on the economy and jobs.

Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman and media executive, has poured millions of dollars into his bid for the White House since joining the race in late November. Spending on TV ads in Minnesota has already hit an estimated $1.8 million, according to a tracker updated by the website FiveThirtyEight.com. A spokesman said Tuesday that the campaign hopes to open seven field offices across the state.

"While other campaigns focus solely on New Hampshire and Iowa, Mike is prioritizing voters in states that are often overlooked in the Democratic primary," the campaign said in a statement.

While Wednesday will mark the campaign's first visit to the state, Bloomberg has had a presence in Minnesota for years. Bloomberg, who ran for mayor as a Republican and an independent, has funded efforts to legalize same-sex marriage, pass tougher gun laws and elect Democrats to Congress, as well as initiatives related to climate and education.

The former mayor is one of 15 Democratic candidates who qualified for Minnesota's March 3 presidential primary ballot. Early absentee voting is set to begin on Jan. 17.

Candidate Michael Bloomberg will visit a soybean farm near Wells, Minn., on Wednesday.

Torey Van Oot • 651-925-5049 Stephen Montemayor • 612-673-1755