Koering Loses to Gazelka

District 12 will have a new State Senator when the legislature convenes in January. 

Incumbent Republican Paul Koering has lost to former State Representative Paul Gazelka by nearly 900 votes in the primary election Tuesday, 3,752 to 2857, or 56 to 43 percent.  All precincts have reported to the Secretary of State's office. 

Koering had decided to bypass the endorsing convention and take his chances in the primary.  His chances may have been harmed by a general anti-incumbent sentiment by the voters, and a recent diner he had with a gay porn star.

Gazelka will now face Taylor Stevenson, the DFL-er who ran without party opposition in the primary.