MINNEAPOLIS, March 30, 2008—Mayo Clinic physician and MMA member Brian Davis, M.D., won the Republican endorsement Saturday to represent Minnesota's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In his acceptance speech Davis talked about his family, and outlined specific issues, opposing gay marriage and the No Child Left Behind Act. He is in favor of stem-cell research that doesn't involve human embryos.

Davis hopes to run against Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, in November. But first he must compete against popular state Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, in the primary.

Many expected Saturday's convention in Albert Lea to be a close fight between Davis and state Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield. But Davis surprised  many by attracting 160 votes on the first ballot, enough to win.

Davis received his medical degree from the University of Illinois, and spent his intern year at Evanston Hospital/Northwestern University in Evanston. He completed his specialty training in radiation oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

He currently serves as vice president of the American Brachytherapy Society and will serve as President in 2008-2009. He also serves as co-director of the Prostate Cancer Program at the Mayo Clinic.