Republican Scott Tipton, a Colorado state representative, announced Monday that he will challenge Democrat John Salazar for the congressional seat he has held for three terms.

“With encouragement from people around our district — Republicans, Democrats, unaffiliated voters — I am entering the race to represent the 3rd Congressional District of Colorado,” Tipton said in a statement Monday.

Tipton criticized actions the Democratic-run Congress has taken during the first nine months of the Obama administration ‘– including a health care bill that the House narrowly passed over the weekend with Salazar’s support.