Peterson gets independent challenger

A former DFL state senator told the St. Cloud Times over the weekend that he’s challenging Rep. Collin Peterson as an independent. Former Sen. Gene Waldorf was the darling of the anti-abortion movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he sponsored legislation that would ban all abortion in Minnesota except in the cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the woman.

Waldorf slammed his former party telling the Times that “bribery” and “closed-door activities” don’t meet long-held ethical standards for lawmaking.

“They’ve lost their integrity in dealing with legislation,” Waldorf said. “They’ve put their party interests ahead of the public.”

Waldorf was well known at the Minnesota Capitol for his unwillingness to compromise on the issue of abortion. ”People say: ‘Why don’t you get together and compromise?’ You can’t. It’s a matter of life and death,” he said in 1989.

That uncompromising stance cost him his seat in 1992. Current Sen. Ellen Anderson challenged him for the DFL endorsement and, with a high number of reproductive-rights advocates attending his caucus, Waldorf decided to retire rather than face a primary.

Waldorf joins four Republican candidates hoping to oust Peterson: Lee Byberg of Willmar, Karen Nelson of Spicer, Melva Larson of Bagley and Glen Menze of Starbuck.