Keri Heintzeman wins Republican primary in 6th Senate District special election

The wife of a Republican state lawmaker cruised to success Tuesday night in a special primary vote in Minnesota s th Senate District where the seat was vacated after the arrest and resignation of GOP Sen Justin Eichorn In the eight-candidate Republican field Keri Heintzeman won about of the vote Retired Grand Rapids veterinarian John Howe was in second place with about of the vote Former state Republican Party chair and current Nisswa Mayor Jennifer Carnahan was in third place with about of the vote Other Republican candidates were Steve Cotariu a Merrifield veteran and businessman Josh Gazelka a Brainerd resident who is the son of former state Sen Paul Gazelka Doug Kern a Brainerd business owner and Angel Zierden a former Breezy Point mayor Heintzeman s husband Rep Josh Heintzeman R-Nisswa represents House District B In the DFL primary Denise Slipy an environmental soundness and safety professional from Breezy Point ran unopposed Slipy will face Keri Heintzeman in the April special polling The outcome won t affect the balance of power in the Senate where Democrats at the moment have a two-vote majority District which stretches from Brainerd and Baxter north to Grand Rapids has shifted Republican but Democrats hope political winds might be shifting Eichorn resigned last month after he was charged with attempting to solicit a minor in what turned out to be an underage sex sting operation in Bloomington Related Articles Marshall man suggests that ICE detained him for protests over police killings Busy Baby founder turns to crowdfunding to pay China tariff and keep business afloat Letters We need St Paul councilors with business sense Minnesota farmers face challenges as farm incomes continue to decline What s driving down gun violence in St Paul Solving nonfatal shootings and outreach are helping bureaucrats say