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Minneapolis voters chose Dziedzic, Allen in DFL primaries

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Dec 7, 2011 at 8:37 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minneapolis voters have narrowed the fields for two legislative seats to be filled in January special elections.

Primaries were held Tuesday for one seat in the state Senate and another in the House. Both were prompted by resignations by incumbents in heavily Democratic districts.

Unofficial returns show Kari Dziedzic won a six-way race for the Democratic nod in a Senate district that includes the University of Minnesota. Dziedzic advances to face Ben Schwanke, the lone Republican in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Larry Pogemiller, who was appointed to run the state Office of Higher Education.

Party endorsee Susan Allen defeated three other Democrats running for the House seat in south-central Minneapolis. That vacancy was created when Rep. Jeff Hayden resigned to run for a different open Senate seat.