Kari Dziedzic wins DFL state senate primary

Kari Dziedzic
Kari Dziedzic won a crowded primary for a northeast Minneapolis state Senate seat Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. She will face Republican Ben Schwanke in a special election January 10, 2012.
MPR Photo/Matt Sepic

The daughter of a longtime city councilman won a crowded DFL primary for a northeast Minneapolis state senate seat Tuesday evening.

Kari Dziedzic won a third of the vote in a five-way race.

She'll face Republican Ben Schwanke in a special election January 10.

The winner will replace DFL Senator Larry Pogemiller, who resigned in October to take a new job as director of the Office of Higher Education.

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Dziedzic says the campaign was quick but intense.

"It was a sprint. I think we were in this five weeks. But we ran a positive, grass-roots, issue-oriented campaign," Dziedzic.

"We had volunteers ages 8 to 80 out. We were door knocking and putting up lawn signs and several of those Saturdays it was snowing and sleeting at you, and you had Thanksgiving in the middle."

Dziedzic's father Walt Dziedzic served on the Minneapolis City Council and park board.

Also, DFLer Susan Allen of south Minneapolis won a special House primary. She's expected to be the first Native American woman to serve in the legislature.