Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah announced on Wednesday that she is running for Minnesota’s 6th District seat.

Sivarajah is the second GOP candidate in the primary to replace GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, who announced last month that she would not seek re-election.

Former state Rep. Tom Emmer, a Republican who lost a 2010 gubernatorial bid, announced his candidacy last week.

Sivarajah, who unsuccessfully ran for the lieutenant governor nomination in 2010, and Emmer will fight for the state party’s endorsement in the 6th District next year. Republicans in the state predict the endorsement process — during which party delegates back a candidate via a series of unpredictable caucuses — has the potential to make or break this race for the party.

Consultants have also predicted a crowded GOP primary in the 6th District. The area includes pockets of strong conservative territory, and Republicans will likely hold on to the seat now that Bachmann has bowed out.

Democratic candidate Jim Graves, who had announced early this year that he would challenge Bachmann in a rematch, dropped out of the race soon after Bachmann said she would retire from Congress.

Following Graves’ exit from the race, Democratic environmental activist Judy Adams announced her bid.

Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call rates this a Republican Favored race.