![Pawlenty Files Campaign Committee for Minnesota Governor Run](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2017/12/Tim-Pawlenty.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Pawlenty Files Campaign Committee for Minnesota Governor Run
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has formed a campaign committee to run for his old job.
The two-term Republican governor announced Monday he created a campaign committee for the 2018 election. It's not official yet, as Pawlenty still needs to formally file for the office.
But it's the surest sign yet that Pawlenty plans to enter the race after starting to raise money recently. He says he'll make a final announcement soon.
Pawlenty would bring widespread recognition in Minnesota and unparalleled fundraising ability in the race to replace Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. But his five years lobbying in Washington for the nation's biggest banks also brings political risk.
It would be a return to politics for Pawlenty, who left office in 2011 and ran a short-lived 2012 presidential campaign.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Jensen and Birk Make Campaign Stop in St. Cloud Saturday [PHOTOS]](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2022/10/attachment-DSC09119.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Former Sen. Jensen Announces GOP Candidacy for Governor](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/07/Senator-Scott-Jensen.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Walz Proposes Tax Hikes on the Rich to Balance State Budget](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/11/GettyImages-1244020932.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Walz Denounces Minnesota GOP Leaders for Hedging on Vote](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/11/GettyImages-1244021453.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![MN Governors Release Video to Promote Voting, Civility](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/10/Govs.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Governor Signs Bills on COVID-19, Election Security, Drugs](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/06/Tim-Walz.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![With Summer Winding Down, Walz Now Planning for 2020 Session](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/02/Tim-Walz.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Walz to Temporarily Transfer Power During Knee Surgery](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/03/Governor-Walz-and-Lt-Gov-Flanigan-at-SCTCC.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![More People Than Fish in Boat for Governor’s Fishing Opener](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/05/67890BDF-0EA1-402C-B37D-B48D1289B865.jpeg?w=980&q=75)