News alert from Roll Call:

Ramstad Expected to Announce Retirement Today
In another blow to House Republicans, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) is expected to announce his retirement this afternoon, according to Republican sources and media reports in Minnesota.
Ramstad has a news conference scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern at his district office in Minnetonka, a suburb of the Twin Cities.
While Ramstad always has won his seat handily, President Bush took only 51 percent of the vote there in 2004, suggesting the race to replace the nine-term Congressman could be very competitive.

This makes Minnesota an even more important state. A Senate and presidential battleground, and now two competitive House seats — the other is held by Rep. Tim Walz (D), who suprised Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) last November.

Ramstad is fairly liberal. The seat will be tough for Republicans to hold.