After state Sen. Julianne Ortman failed to win endorsement at Tuesday’s GOP District 47 convention, it seemed likely that she’d face a primary challenge from a more conservative candidate, Bruce Schwichtenberg, of San Francisco Township.
Schwichtenberg said Tuesday that he was considering a primary run, but now he’s confirmed to the Chanhassen Villager that he will take on Ortman in a primary.
Ortman, a 10-year veteran of the Legislature, led the convention with about half the votes during five ballots, but Schwichtenberg was close behind until the end, and neither received the needed 60 percent.
Ortman is the Senate Tax Committee chair, and has been criticized by some in the party for being too moderate.
