Financial Services Roundtable CEO and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will meet with Republican donors in coming days to discuss launching a bid to seek re-election to the governor's office later this year, Minnesota Public Radio reported Thursday.

Pawlenty, 58, recently sent emails to donors and key political players inviting them to a Feb. 12 gathering at an undisclosed location to discuss "Minnesota's future," according to MPR. Recipients were asked to set aside the time but would be given the location at a later date.

Mark Dayton, a Democrat, is currently Minnesota's governor but does not intend to seek re-election. At least eight people have declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination for the seat, according to Ballotpedia. Six Democrats are vying for their party's nomination. The filing deadline for candidates seeking to participate in the election is June 5.

Pawlenty previously served two terms as Minnesota's governor from 2003 to 2011. He afterward launched a bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2012. The nomination ultimately went to Mitt Romney. Pawlenty became FSR's CEO later that year, succeeding former U.S. Rep. Steve Bartlett (R-Texas).

Pawlenty was rumored to be considering running for the seat formerly held by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), but he told reporters in January he wasn't interested in the position. A former adviser to Pawlenty told MPR the upcoming meeting signaled his interest in returning to Minnesota politics. Pawlenty himself did not return reporters' messages for comment. http://bit.ly/2ExJqBo

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