Those interested in running in the Jan. 26 special election for the District 26 state Senate seat being vacated by Dick Day can start signing up today.

And apparently there's a  lot of interest.

Five Republicans and one Independence Party candidate seem to be in the mix, and now MPR's Polinaut points us to the Waseca County News for an update that at least one DFLer has finally emerged.

Jason Engbrecht, a Faribault School Board member and a professor at St. Olaf College, has talked with DFL officials about taking a shot.

“They asked me if I would think about running and for the last week I’ve talked to family, friends, and people at work,” Engbrecht told the paper “On Saturday, I became convinced that we had a good shot.”

The five Republicans hoping to get their party's endorsement and a chance to keep the seat in the GOP column are: Waseca businessman Mike Parry, Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz, Faribault City Council Member Steven Underdahl, Faribault businesswoman Teri Menard and businessman Ted Boosalis.

Waseca Mayor Roy Srp is running as an Independence Party candidate.

Observers say there may be even more candidates before filings close Dec. 29.

If, after party endorsements, more than one candidate from each party still wants to run, a primary election will be held Jan. 12.