Primary Tuesday: Races to watch

The biggest race this time around is for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination for governor. The winner will take on Republican Tom Emmer in the general election.

Former Sen. Mark Dayton has been leading in most polls, albeit by a relatively small amount. There’s still the possibility that House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher could pull ahead, despite the fact that she’s at a financial disadvantage. Former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza is polling third. But with a primary like this, where turnout can fluctuate between 350,000-500,000 voters, it could be anyone’s game.

State Senate District 67
There are nine contenders for the DFL nomination for the seat of former state Sen. Mee Moua. There’s no DFL endorsement. Former St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington secured law enforcement support. Vang Lor has the support of TakeAction Minnesota.

John Harrington
Foung Hawj
Tom Hilber
Chai Lee
Vang Lor
Jim McGowan
Trayshana Thomas
Avi Viswanathan
Cha Yang

State Senate District 12
State Sen. Paul Koering faces former state Rep. Paul Gazelka in Senate District 12. Koering, who is openly gay, didn’t seek the Republican endorsement. Controversy erupted after it was revealed that he dined with a gay porn star in Brainerd earlier this year. National anti-gay-marriage groups have weighed in on the race, to the displeasure of Gazelka.

State Sen. Satveer Chaudhary of Fridley has had a bad election cycle. First, he got himself tangled in a controversy over his role in influencing Rep. David Dill, DFL-Balsam Township, to attach a provision to the game and fish bill that would have changed fishing restrictions on a lake where Chaudhary owned a cabin. Then, he was admonished by the Senate ethics committee. Then his local revoked his DFL endorsement and gave it to former Representative Barbara Goodwin. Still, Chaudhary has a lot of money in the bank and political friends, so it’s up in the air.