St. Thomas law professor Teresa Collett announced this week she will seek the Republican endorsement for Congress in Minnesota’s Fourth District.

The seat is held by Democrat Betty McCollum, who was first elected in 2000. The Fourth District includes St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus.

The endorsement process begins tonight with precinct caucuses held around the state.

Collett started at St. Thomas in 2003. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute and has testified before both U.S. House and Senate committees. Collett represented Congressman Ron Paul and and various medical groups in the defense of the federal ban on partial-birth abortion. She calls herself a passionate advocate for human life and the family.

Shane Delaney can be reached at smdelaney@stthomas.edu