NORTH MANKATO — Democrat Dan Feehan thinks it’s worth another shot. Who can blame him?

Feehan on Tuesday announced he will challenge first-term Congressman Jim Hagedorn of southern Minnesota in 2020. Feehan lost to Hagedorn in 2018 by just 1,300 votes, out of 290,000 cast.

“As a former soldier, teacher, and public servant, I believe our politics should be about putting people first,” Feehan, 36, said in a press release. “After 9/11, I volunteered for the Army because I love our country — and when my platoon was taking fire in Iraq, we were in it together, regardless of race, religion or politics. That’s what makes America great.

“Back home in southern Minnesota, we work hard and come together to solve problems. I’m running for Congress because we need that approach to fix the broken system in Washington, D.C.”

Feehan was born in St. Paul and grew up north of Rochester. He says those who inspired him included his parents and the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota.

From 2005 to 2009, he served on active duty, completing two combat tours as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with Valor.

After the army, he taught middle school math, then became an acting Assistant Secretary of Defense.

He now lives in North Mankato with his wife, Amy. They have two young boys, Conor and Declan.

Feehan is not pulling any punches when it comes to Hagedorn.

“Jim Hagedorn is part of the problem because he is beholden to special interests and supports policies that benefit the big-moneyed donors in our country at the cost of hard-working communities,” he said. “Instead of fighting for middle class families, he has repeatedly voted against lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, put rural hospitals at risk, and stood in silent support of economic uncertainty for our farmers, while spreading hate and division in our communities. We deserve better.”

The National Republican Campaign Committee responded to Feehan’s announcement, saying voters have already rejected the “socialist loser” once and will do so again in 2020.

“Dan must hope voters will embrace his support of socialized medicine, open borders, on-demand late-term abortion and gun confiscation,” said the NRCC’s regional press secretary, Carly Atchison. “And let’s not forget about his party’s rabid obsession with impeaching President Trump, who won MN-01 by 15 points.”

Hagedorn, 57, lives in Blue Earth. He grew up on his family’s grain and livestock farm near Truman. He serves on the House committees on agriculture and small business.

He says he works to promote farming, Main Street and southern Minnesota’s way of life.