Former Hennepin County sheriff enters Minnesota governor's race

Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek is running for Minnesota governor.

Driving the news: Stanek, who also served in the Legislature, announced his bid for the GOP nomination on Tuesday, hours before Republicans were set to gather to take a key step in the party's endorsement process.

State of play: The field of candidates vying to take on DFL Gov. Tim Walz in November is large — and unsettled.

• The GOP endorsement, set to be finalized in May, will likely determine the nominee.

What he's saying: Stanek highlighted his career in law enforcement and concerns over crime in an announcement video.

• "Today our streets are flooded with violence and our neighbors need help more than ever," he said. "That means my job is not finished."

Bio, in brief: Stanek, a former Minneapolis police officer, served in the Minnesota House from 1995 to 2003 and as sheriff of the state's largest county for three terms, starting in 2007.

• In between, he had a brief stint as the state's public safety commissioner. He resigned from that post after a 1989 incident, in which he admitted to using racial slurs while working as a police officer, came to light.

What to watch: Results of a straw poll set to be conducted at the GOP caucuses Tuesday will likely signal where delegates are leaning with about three months to go until the endorsing convention.