Local Republicans will get a preview of the upcoming 2nd District U.S. Congressional race at Saturday’s county convention, as GOP candidate Dan Matthews kicks off the day as the event’s guest speaker.

Matthews, a resident of Mukilteo, Boeing pilot instructor and University of Puget Sound graduate, recently announced his candidacy for U.S. Congressional seat held by incumbent Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens. Matthews, a self-described social and fiscal conservative, will be at Mi Casita Restaurant, at the Best Western hotel, for a pre-convention “meet-greet-eat” get together Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Larsen, first elected 2nd District Congressman in 2001, defeated GOP challenger John Koster in 2010 to earn a sixth two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Larsen is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The GOP county convention gets underway at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor at 8:30 a.m.