Michael Brodkorb is resigning his post as Minnesota State Republican Party deputy chair to work as a volunteer adviser on the new congressional campaign of state Sen. Mike Parry.

Parry, who’s been in the state Senate since 2010, filed paperwork on Friday to run against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in the 1st District.

Brodkorb, who’s known as an aggressive player of party politics, can’t do both things — work for the party and volunteer for Parry prior to endorsement — according to party rules.

Brodkorb said this about Parry:

“I believe Senator Parry can put the 1st Congressional District where it belongs — in the Republican win column. I have worked closely with Senator Parry since he was elected in a special election to the Minnesota Senate in January of ’10 and genuinely believe he is the right person to do this.”

State Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton praised Brodkorb’s work:

“Within the confines of a sound bite, I can’t really do justice to the contribution Micheal has made to the Republican Party. “Michael has spent incalculable hours doing everything from door-knocking for Republican candidates to developing political and communications strategies that enabled Republicans to capture majorities in the state House and Senate. In the public eye, Michael has been an aggressive voice for the Republican Party whatever the personal costs to himself. Inside the Party, Michael is the person people look to for his keen political and communications insight. As State Party Chair, I couldn’t have had a better partner; as a person, I don’t have a better friend.”

Sutton is expected to appoint an interim deputy chair later this week; the State Central Committee then will elect a new deputy chair at its December meeting.