By Mike Kaszuba
Despite the controversies surrounding Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, the DFL senator from Fridley has raised slightly more money for his re-election than his opponent, according to campaign finance reports released Tuesday.
The reports show that Chaudhary, one of Minnesota's leading politicians on outdoors issues, has raised $11,455 through July 19 -- and more importantly lists a cash balance of more than $23,000. His opponent, former legislator Barb Goodwin, raised $9,075 and had a cash balance of $2,607.
The DFL primary election for the disputed Senate District 50 seat will be held Aug. 10.
Goodwin however has only been in the race for a month, and was given the DFL endorsement after party officials took the unusual move of stripping it away from Chaudhary, a three-term senator. Chaudhary has been embroiled in a series of controversies since May, when he helped to insert language into a proposed law that would try to improve the walleye fishing on a lake near Duluth where he owns a cabin.
Chaudhary, who has apologized for his actions, initially contested the move to take away his DFL endorsement but later dropped his appeal.
