Republican incumbent state Sen. Paul Utke defeated his party-endorsed challenger and a third candidate to advance to the general election in November.
Utke earned 5,024 votes, or 57.33% of the vote in 144 voting precincts. Bussman, who earned the endorsement this spring, received 2,834 votes, or 32.34%. Challenger Dale A.P. Anderson received 906 votes, or 10.34%.
The new Senate District 5 includes Todd and Wadena counties along with portions of Becker, Cass, Hubbard and Morrison counties. It covers areas that were represented primarily by state Sen. Paul Gazelka, an East Gull Lake Republican who is retiring from the Legislature, before the redistricting based on the 2020 Census.
Candidates were Anderson of Pine River, a truck driver, farmer and pastor; Bussman of Browerville, a U.S. Army veteran who works at Camp Ripley; and Utke of Park Rapids, an insurance agent and certified legal videographer.
Utke will face DFLer A. John Peters of Browerville in the November election.
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