Public Service Commission Chairman Kevin Cramer (R) is set to announce a run for North Dakota’s at-large House seat today, creating what could become nine-term Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s (D) first competitive race in years.

Cramer challenged Pomeroy twice in the 1990s, and though he lost both times, he held the incumbent to a vote share in the mid-50s in both races. Pomeroy won his 2008 re-election with 62 percent of the vote.

Cramer joins Bismarck insurance salesman and first-time candidate Paul Schaffner in the GOP field. Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn also has expressed interest in the race and earlier this week told state GOP Chairman Gary Emineth he was considering it.

In addition, state Rep. Rick Berg (R) has also not ruled out a run.

The GOP is set to nominate a candidate at a state convention in mid-March. Only rarely do candidates run in a primary without the party’s backing.