The GOP primary for Minnesota’s 6th District became more crowded this week, when state Sen. John Pederson filed federal paperwork to run for the seat.

Pederson is the third Republican to enter the primary after GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann announced her retirement last month.

Former state Rep. Tom Emmer, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010, announced earlier this month that he will seek Bachmann’s seat. Emmer was followed into the race by Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah, who announced last week that she too is running in the GOP primary.

Pederson did not immediately return a request for comment, but he filed his paperwork on Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

Earlier, this cycle, Democrats had hoped early they could win this seat by capitalizing on Bachmann’s declining popularity in the district, located in the Minneapolis exurbs.

But Bachmann’s retirement almost ensures that this otherwise safe Republican seat will stay in Republican hands this cycle.

Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call now rates this race as a safe Republican contest.