Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert of Marshall says he is stepping down as GOP caucus leader and considering a run for governor in 2010. 

Seifert says his caucus will elect a new leader on June 24. He has been the House GOP caucus leader since 2006.  He says he will now start gauging support for a potential  campaign for governor.

Seifert is entering what's expected to a crowded field of Republicans exploring whether to seek their party's nomination to succeed Gov. Tim Pawlenty. There's already a long list of prominent Democrats running or thinking about it.