ST. PAUL, Minn. — Long ago, in a seemingly distant political universe, Tim Pawlenty was a fresh-faced Republican star with blue-collar appeal and presidential prospects.

Now, the former Minnesota governor is a high-powered banking lobbyist, and he’s eyeing a climb back onto the national stage.

An unexpected Senate election next year, created by Democrat Al Franken’s resignation after sexual harassment allegations, has created the opening. Some GOP power players are looking expectantly at Pawlenty as their best chance to take a Senate seat in a Democratic-leaning state with an unorthodox streak. A comeback bid could test whether a mild-mannered, establishment Republican and once-vocal critic of President Donald Trump fits into the Trump-era GOP.

“Ideology is going to trump a lot of other things, always, in a Republican convention. But they also are looking for someone who has the fire in the belly,” Minnesota Republican operative Annette Meeks said. “I think Republicans are looking at it like this: We’ve got to win.”

Pawlenty, 57, has said he is “reflecting” on the Senate race, 11 years since he last ran in Minnesota and six years since his short-lived presidential campaign fizzled. Since then, he’s split his time between Washington, heading the financial industry’s top lobbying group, and his home in Eagan, Minnesota.

While publicly insisting he’s “politically retired,” he had already been weighing a return to public office, including the governorship next year or the Senate in 2020, former Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum said.