Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, handily defeated challenger Lavern Pederson 1,530-276 or 84.72 percent to 15.28 percent in Tuesday's primary. Persell represents House District 5A, which includes much of Cass County. He was first elected to the post in 2008.
Persell will face Republican Phillip Nelson in the November general election. Nelson had no opposition on the GOP side of the ballot.
