MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) -- If Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann doesn't get elected, he may have a future in holding beer steins.

The former congressman defeated three other contestants Thursday night in a beer stein holding contest in Milwaukee, advancing him to the national competition in New York.

The contest requires competitors to hold a stein full of beer with their arm fully extended. Neumann made it about five minutes.

Thursday's regional competition came after he won a local contest in February by holding his stein nearly seven minutes.

In the other contest, Neumann is being challenged for the Republican nomination by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is running as a Democrat.

It wasn't immediately clear how long Walker or Barrett could hold a beer stein.