DFL leaders in Senate District 50 took back their endorsement of veteran state Sen. Satveer Chaudhary Monday night, citing an ethics reprimand. The endorsement was then given to Chaudhary's DFL challenger, former state Rep. Barbara Goodwin. The two will now battle to win the Aug. 10 primary election.

The meeting in Fridley was closed to the public and press, at Chaudhary's request. He addressed the group for two hours, reports the Star Tribune, hoping to persuade them to stick with him. When it didn't work, Chaudhary said he'd contest the action and that he'd stay in the race.

After the vote, he wrote on his Facebook page: "The DFL will always be my family."

Chaudhary's trouble came to a head after the end of the legislative session in May, when it was learned he'd worked behind the scenes to insert a provision in a bill that would improve fishing on a northern lake where he owns a cabin. He'd also angered party leaders by supporting former Sen. Mark Dayton in the governor's race over DFL-endorsed House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Chaudhary tried to remedy that problem over the weekend when he sent a letter and a $100 check to the Kelliher campaign.

The Pioneer Press reports Chaudhary remained confident Monday night when he said: "Our campaign is leaps and bounds ahead of any of my opponents — including Republicans."