ST. CLOUD  — Minnesota Republicans are gathering in St. Cloud this weekend to endorse a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

The Republican State Convention is Friday and Saturday at the St. Cloud Civic Center. Three candidates are in serious contention for the Senate endorsement. They are state Rep. Kurt Bills; military veteran and activist Pete Hegseth; and former state representative Dan Severson. All three pledged to honor the endorsement, meaning whoever gets it will face Democratic incumbent Amy Klobuchar in November.

The state Republican Party is coming off a few rocky months thanks to serious financial problems and a state Senate scandal. Supporters of insurgent Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul are expected to demonstrate their growing influence at the convention, and Paul is addressing the group Friday night.