Jim Hovland, mayor of Edina, Minnesota, declared his candidacy yesterday for the seat of GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad, whose retirement has created a top pick-up opportunity for Democrats in a swing district.

Hovland was a Republican himself until recently, but switched to the Democrats and then began exploring the race — and he says he's gotten a good reception from the state DFL Central Committee. Other Democrats already in the race are state Sen. Terri Bonoff and Iraq War veteran Ashwin Madia, while state Rep. Erik Paulsen is the only declared Republican.