Republican-endorsed candidate and former Wright County legislator Tom Emmer, Delano, who at one time represented the St. Micahel-Albertville, Hanover and Otsego areas at the Minnesota State Capitol, now looks like the clear-cut favorite to represent this area in Washington, D.C.
Emmer, who earned the party’s endorsement last winter and spring, will hope to carry the torch for the party in Congressional District 6, where outspoken Tea Party leader Rep. Michele Bachmann is retiring.
Bachmann threw her clout behind Emmer at the party convention earlier this year, writing the campaign a check on stage to show her support.
Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah challenged Emmer to the primary, but the one-time candidate for governor (back in 2010) rolled away with 73 percent of the vote.
“This is just the next step. It’s a big step, but the real challenge comes in November. And then, it’s on to Washington,” Emmer told his constituents via a statement Tuesday after the Associated Press declared him the winner about an hour after polls closed statewide.
Emmer will face DFL-endorsed candidate Joe Perske and Independence Party candidate John Denny in November.
In the other federal race set for November’s ballot, Mike McFadden, a political “newcomer” on all counts, rolled to win with 72 percent of the vote in a four-man race for the right to square off with Sen. Al Franken. McFadden, an investment banker from Sunfish Lake, has never run for office at any level, but earned the GOP endorsement heading into the primary.
STATE RACES
The Republican Party also pushed through-mostly-endorsed candidates in the state primary.
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson held off four candidates to earn the GOP nomination for governor and the chance to square off against Gov. Mark Dayton. Johnson topped a field of Kurt Zellers, Marty Seifert and Scott Hounor by grabbing 30.3 percent of the vote. Zellers, former GOP majority leader in the state house, was second with 23 percent.
Meanwhile, Scott Newman rolled to a win in the race for the State Attorney General nomination from the GOP. He’ll face off with incumbent, DLFer Lor Sawnson.
Democrats nominated Steve Simon to take a shot at replacing retiring Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. He’ll face Dan Severson of the GOP in November. And DFLer and current State Auditor Rebecca Otto easily held off a challenge from fellow DFL man Matt Entenza. Otto wll square off with Randy Gilbert of the GOP and Patrick Dean of the Independence Party on Tuesday, Nov. 4.