Boise businessman Walt Minnick announced Wednesday that he would seek the Democratic nomination in the 1st district.

Minnick, a former timber company executive, traveled to Caldwell, Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston and was accompanied by former Gov. Cecil Andrus (D).

“Petty partisan battles and bickering are preventing us from making progress on critical issues,” Minnick said in a statement. “We need someone who will stand up to business as usual in Washington.”

To win the Democratic nomination, Minnick will have to get past 2006 nominee Larry Grant and consultant Rand Lewis.

The winner of the Democratic primary is gunning for freshman Rep. Bill Sali (R), who won the heavily GOP 1st district last year in closer-than-expected fashion. Sali has a primary of his own, with Iraq War veteran Matt Salisbury (R), whose political strength remains to be seen.

— David M. Drucker