Incumbents Chaudhary, Koering lose legislative seats
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Two incumbent legislators lost their bids for re-election in Tuesday's primary election.
Voters in the Brainerd area have denied GOP state Sen. Paul Koering a shot at a third term. Koering lost his primary to state Rep. Paul Gazelka, who had the party's endorsement.
And Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, lost to a former state lawmaker after he tried to enact a special fishing rule on a northern Minnesota lake where he owns a cabin.
Koering was criticized during the campaign for straying from the Republican Party on legislative votes. The race got wide exposure this summer when Koering, who is gay, acknowledged dining with a male adult film star.
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Koering had complained the state party was engaged in dirty campaigning when it filed requests with area law enforcement for any records authorities had on him.
Gazelka will face Democrat Taylor Stevenson. The Constitution Party candidate is Steve Park.
Chaudhary was defeated by former state Rep. Barb Goodwin. Democrats stripped Chaudhary of their endorsement and gave it to Goodwin after the lake rule issue came to light.
Chaudhary's troubles multiplied soon after when he acknowledged owing the federal government about $250,000 in overdue income taxes. He later paid the taxes.
Former St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington has won the DFL primary to run for the St. Paul Senate seat vacated by Sen. Mee Moua.
Harrington won the Tuesday primary in a crowded field of nine candidates vying for the DFL nomination. It makes him the general election favorite in the heavily Democratic district on St. Paul's east side.
Harrington was a 30-year veteran of the St. Paul Police Department and became chief in 2004. He stepped down from the post and the department at the end of June.
Moua decided earlier this year not to seek a third term. She had been the first Hmong-American member of the Minnesota Legislature.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
