In another blow to House Republicans, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) is expected to announce his retirement this afternoon, according to Republican sources and media reports in Minnesota.

Ramstad has a news conference scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern at his district office in Minnetonka, a suburb of the Twin Cities.

While Ramstad always has won his seat handily, President Bush took only 51 percent of the vote there in 2004, suggesting the race to replace the nine-term Congressman could be very competitive.