Minnesota voters trickle into polls for quiet primary

Minnesota voters trickled into the polls Tuesday for what officials called a very quiet primary election.

One of the few high-profile races was in southern Minnesota's Second Congressional District, where GOP Rep. John Kline's retirement set up a four-way Republican primary fight for his seat. Among those seeking the GOP nomination were conservative radio talk show host Jason Lewis, who carried the party's endorsement, businesswoman Darlene Miller, former state Sen. John Howe and consultant Matt Erickson.

But election officials in the mostly suburban and rural district said even that race hadn't attracted many voters. In one of the district's larger communities, the Minneapolis suburb of Lakeville, only a few voters had stopped in to a polling place as of Tuesday afternoon.

Among those who did was Todd Laubach, who said he voted for Lewis because of Lewis' radio career, fiscal conservatism and party endorsement. He said he wasn't concerned about the criticism over some of Lewis' on-air remarks.

"I know he can be inflammatory. He's an entertainer," Laubach said. "That doesn't sway me that he can't be reasonable."

Matt Schiefelbein, 20, said he was the only one among his group of friends to vote. He said he voted for Miller, citing Kline's endorsement of Miller, among other things. He also said he was disturbed by some of Lewis' "stupid, kind of Donald Trump-like" comments.

Paul Burski said he voted for Lewis because he sees the radio host as similar to the Republican presidential nominee.

"I just think we need change," Bruski said. "I'm tired of the way things are going."

Andy Lokken, the elections manager for Dakota County, which includes Lakeville, said he was surprised that the congressional race didn't drive more turnout. But he took comfort that the county's new voting system worked well. He said it was the first major county-wide election he's worked in which he didn't have to replace equipment.

"We like boring election days," Lokken said.

Goodhue County elections official Amy Hove said turnout there had been a little higher in a couple cities with mayoral and city council races, but there had been "very minimal turnout" elsewhere. The GOP congressional race and a state Supreme Court race were the only contests on the ballot for most of her county's cities and townships.

On the Democratic side, Angie Craig, a former St. Jude Medical executive, had a clear path to face the winner in the fall.

Meanwhile, one of Minnesota's longest-serving lawmakers was fighting to extend her 44-year legislative career in a three-way Democratic primary. Rep. Phyllis Kahn, of Minneapolis, was vying with two Somali community activists, Ilhan Omar and Mohamud Noor, to keep her seat.

A win for either of Kahn's challengers could pave the way for the nation's first Somali-American lawmaker, since Tuesday's winner will likely be heavily favored in November in the liberal district.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt also had a primary challenger. Daudt, seen as a potential Republican candidate for governor at some point, was trying to fend off Alan Duff, a former Isanti County commissioner who has argued that Daudt hasn't done enough to limit state spending.

The only statewide race was for the Minnesota Supreme Court, where Associate Justice Natalie Hudson was the incumbent in a three-party field. Two candidates advance to November.

Turnout was expected to be very low. Ramsey County elections chief Joe Mansky, a former state elections official, estimated there would be a 5 percent turnout in his county, the state's second-most populous. The secretary of state's office wouldn't give an estimate.