Jim Hagedorn cleared an easy hurdle Tuesday night in pursuit of a much more challenging goal.

The endorsed Republican for the 1st District congressional seat beat Steve Williams, a rural Austin man, and moves on to face five-term Democratic incumbent Tim Walz. Hagedorn received 76.5 percent of the vote to Williams’ 23.51 percent.

“Tonight is another milestone in our cause to win back the First Congressional District and begin the process of restoring America’s greatness,” Hagedorn said in a statement.

“I will continue to walk every parade, attend every county fair, shake every possible hand in every city to personally connect with Southern Minnesotans and win their general election support.”

Williams, a former Independence Party candidate, made a brief splash when he announced his Republican candidacy and triggered the primary against Hagedorn, but admitted to not putting in full-time work covering the district and campaigning, the way Hagedorn has done for years in pursuit of the seat.

Hagedorn also faced a primary in 2014, that time as the unendorsed underdog, beating Aaron Miller.