Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Monday that he is running for reelection in 2022.

Ellison, first elected to the role in 2018, was in the national spotlight for his team's successful prosecution of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON MARKS FLOYD CASE AS 'FIRST STEP TOWARDS JUSTICE'

"It’s my job as the people’s lawyer to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect, especially when they have nowhere else to turn for help," he said in a statement.

Ellison, a former congressman and deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, announced his bid for a second term over Zoom, joined by Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, who endorsed his reelection bid.

Ellison was the first Muslim elected to Congress and the first black attorney general of Minnesota.

Ellison's opponent in the 2018 election, Republican Doug Wardlow, who is gearing up for another go in the 2022 cycle, said Ellison's policies have been disastrous and enabled a surge of crime in the state.

"Keith Ellison’s tenure as Attorney General has been a disaster for all Minnesotans," he said. "While crime continues to rise across the state, Keith Ellison continues to push his dangerous defund the police agenda."

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Crime has increased in Minnesota, particularly in the city of Minneapolis. Violence increased about 17% in the city during the past year, according to the state's Uniform Crime Report.

Ellison supported a ballot measure in this year's elections to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a public safety division. The measure failed, with 56% voting against it and 44% voting for it.