Minnesotans head to the polls Tuesday for the primary election to determine which candidates they want to appear on the ballot for a congressional seat and several legislative races in November.
In the Second Congressional District, voters will choose among four Republicans vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. John Kline.
Jason Lewis, a former conservative talk show host, has the GOP's endorsement and the highest profile. But Darlene Miller, CEO of Permac Industries, has Kline's backing and has been running commercials advertising his support. John Howe, a former state senator, and Matt Erickson are also running.
Just 20,000 people are expected to vote in the district — perhaps less — and candidates acknowledge that get-out-the-vote efforts will be critical.
Numerous longtime legislators are facing challenges from within their own party.
On the DFL side, Minneapolis Rep. Phyllis Kahn is waging the toughest fight of her career as she fends off challenges from Ilhan Omar and Mohamud Noor. The party's endorsing convention ended in a deadlock, though Omar garnered the most support. Omar has also raised far more money than her competitors, and has sought to make the case that the increasingly diverse district needs a representative who better reflects the community. Omar or Noor would be the first Somali-American to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.
In St. Paul, DFL state Rep. Rena Moran faces a primary challenge from Rashad Turner, a Black Lives Matter activist. Turner has said Moran has not done enough to help the black community.
State Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, chairman of the House mining and outdoor recreation committee, is facing a challenge from East Bethel businessman Cal Bahr. Hackbarth did not get the endorsement from local Republicans, prompting the primary faceoff.
