WASHINGTON — Tarryl Clark will run for Congress again, she confirmed today, but this time in the 8th District against freshman Republican Chip Cravaack. 

The announcement came in the form of an article in the Duluth News Tribune, the largest newspaper in the 8th District. Clark later confirmed the story on Twitter and on her Facebook page.

Clark lives with her husband in St. Cloud, just outside the 8th District as presently drawn, however she told the News Tribune she’s bought a condominium in Duluth where she says she’ll spend “a good chunk” of her time during the campaign. Clark ran against Michele Bachmann in the 6th last year, raising more money than any other Democratic challenger in the 2008 cycle, though she eventually lost by 13 points. 

Clark’s entrance in this race has been somewhat expected since EMILY’s List, a group that only backs pro-choice Democratic women for office, put Cravaack on its top target list in April, before a candidate had emerged. At the time, the only two major Democratic women mentioned as mulling the run were Clark and Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon, though Prettner Solon ruled herself out at the time when asked by MPR.

Cravaack instantly became a top national target after just knocking off long-time Rep. Jim Oberstar by less than 5,000 votes in a district that had previously been represented by a Democrat since 1947. Since January 1, more than $160,000 in outside money has been spent on political advertising in the district.

Clark is unlikely to have a solo run at Cravaack, as several others are considering runs. She is, however, the first to announce.

“The congressman looks forward to engaging whomever the DFL endorses on the issues that matter to the 8th District,” said Shawn Ryan, spokesman for Chip Cravaack.