Political newcomer Nathan Wesenberg defeated two legislative veterans to be the sole Republican on the ballot for Senate District 10 in November.
Wesenberg earned 3,757 votes, or 36.88%, to best his next closest rival Steve Wenzel by 449 votes. Wenzel received 3,308 votes, or 32.47%, and Jim Newberger came in third place, earning 3,123 votes or 30.65%.
The new Senate District 10 includes portions of Aitkin, Benton, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Morrison counties. The way the lines were drawn in redistricting earlier this year means there was no sitting senator in the district.
Candidates were Newberger of Milaca, a retired paramedic and past member of the Minnesota House of Representatives; Wesenberg of Little Falls, a wildlife biologist; and Wenzel of Little Falls, a former longtime legislator and current instructor at Central Lakes College.
Wesenberg will face DFLer Suzanne M. Cekalla of Rice in the general election.
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