Redistricting plan impacts coming primary Aug. 14

By JAN WILLMS

The Aug. 14 primary in St. Paul will see some candidates in the Monitor readership area facing off before the Nov. 5 general election. The 2012 Redistricting Plan has resulted in new voting precincts.

In Senate District 65 there will be a runoff between 3 DFLers. Incumbent Sandy Pappas, Marcus Walker and Tom Goldstein will compete in a primary. The winner of the primary will face Rick Karschnia (R).

A small portion of the west Midway now falls into District 64—and in that race DFL incumbent Dick Cohen will be challenged in a primary by Alexander H. Jeffries — the winner of that race will face Sharon Anderson (R) in the November election.

In State Senate District 66, incumbent John Marty (DFL) will be challenged by Wayde Brooks (R).

Area House races do not have any primary contests.

In 64A incumbent Erin Murphy (DFL) will be challenged by Andrew Ojeda (R). In District 65A, Daniel Lipp (R) will run against incumbent Rena Moran (DFL). In House District 66A, incumbent Alice Hausman (DFL) will be challenged by Dave Thomas (IND) and Mark Fotsch (R). In District 66B, incumbent John Lesch (DFL) will face Ben Blomgren (R).

The election in November is an election of issues as much as candidates, as interest groups attempt to build up support on opposing sides of the constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot.

Whether to require a voter ID and whether to limit marriage to a union between one man and one woman are the amendments that voters will support or deny this fall.

“Our real priority is taking back the House and Senate,” said Carlie Waibel, deputy communications director for the DFL Party. “And the Voter ID and marriage amendments are really in the forefront.” The party supports a No vote on both amendments.

“One of the big things Congressman Keith Ellison is doing is registering voters to get out and vote against both of these amendments,” Waibel said.

She said redistricting did not affect the DFL so much and worked out well for them.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to get candidates elected in all parts of the state,” she added.

Bill Denney, chair of Congressional District 4 for the Independence Party, said redistricting did not affect the operation of the party, keeping their officers in the districts they preside over.

“Our two big issues are the two constitutional amendments,” he said. The party passed two resolutions at its convention June 23 strongly opposing both amendments.

Denney said the Independence Party has formed a coalition with Minnesota United for Families, which supports equal rights in marriage for all, and Our Vote, Our Future, a group opposing Voter ID.

He said the strong opposing views of the major parties offer an opening for the Independence Party.

“What we hope for is that people will realize as the two parties drive each other farther and farther apart, there is so much middle ground to make up,” said Denney. “The extreme polarization works in our favor.”

The Republican Party was contacted for this story, but did not respond. The Republican Party has supported the constitutional amendments.