Two incumbent state representatives lose primary election

Two incumbent Republicans who helped DFLers override Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a transportation finance bill earlier this year faced primary challenges.

Representative Jim Abeler of Anoka won his primary, but Neil Peterson of Bloomington lost to consultant Jan Schneider.

Peterson said the state GOP party ran a negative campaign against him. Schneider says the override vote was only one factor in her win.

"I think the state can do better as a state," Peterson said. "I think that's what the citizens felt, and here we are." In Minneapolis, first-term incumbent Representative Willie Dominguez lost to challenger Bobby Joe Champion in the District 58B DFL primary.

There were primaries in 27 of the state's 134 House districts.

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