Former Rep. Rick Nolan (D) this evening came one step closer to returning to Congress after a 32-year hiatus when he won his party’s nomination in the 8th district.

Nolan led former state Sen. Tarryl Clark, 40 percent to 32 percent, with 80 percent of precincts reporting.

Nolan’s victory sets him up to face freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) this November. The 8th district is highly competitive, and both parties have reserved millions of dollars in airtime for the Minneapolis market for this contest and adjacent races.

Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

Nolan struggled with fundraising throughout the primary but prevailed in part with some financial help from the state party. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party aired almost $160,000 in television spots on Nolan’s behalf.

The party backed Nolan over Clark earlier this year.