UPDATED: Wermerskirchen, Dudley Endorsed by District 20 GOP

UPDATED: 2:30 p.m. Friday

Lonsdale's  was endorsed on the first ballot as the House District 20B Republican candidate on Thursday, according to Minnesota Senate GOP communications staffer Sandra Whalen.

 bested Wheatland Township's Rita' Hillmann Olson for the nomination.

“I am honored to have been selected as the House candidate for the citizens of District 20B," Wermerskirchen said in a statement to Patch. "I am looking forward to speaking with folks across the district and working hard to earn their trust and support for the election this November.” 

New Prague's Michael Dudley was also endorsed on Thursday night as the Senate District 20 Republican candidate, Whalen said.

 moved Northfield from District 25 to District 20 for the 2012 election. The new legislative map left Northfield without its incumbents as both current legislators live outside the new District 20.

Kelby Woodard, the Belle Plaine Republican who represents Northfield in the current District 25B, was endorsed for the newly formed House District 20A. 

Northfield already had its Republican candidates for the new District 58, which includes Northfield's lone precinct in Dakota County. Those candidates are Sen. Dave Thompson of Lakeville and Rep. Pat Garofalo of Farmington, both of whom represent that precinct under the current Senate District 36 and House District 36B, respectively.

DFL candidates yet to be decided

The DFL Senate District 20 endorsing convention is May 1.

Former  and Montgomery's  are seeking the DFL nomination for House 20B. Northfield City Councilor Patrick Ganey was a  for the House race, but he  of the race in favor of running for the  for the Second Congressional District to face Republican Congressman John Kline. On the Senate side for District 20, former  is seeking the DFL endorsement.

Last week, , a former Northfield police officer, was endorsed as the DFL candidate for House District 58B.

Steve Quist, the DFL Senate District 58 chairperson who ran against Thompson for the Senate seat in 2010, said one person has shown interest in running against Thompson in 2012.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: District 20 DFL Endorsing Convention
WHEN: 7 p.m. May 1
WHERE: Mongomery American Legion, 102 Elm Ave. SW

Be sure to follow Northfield Patch on Twitter, "Like" us on Facebook, and sign up for our newsletters, which send you updates about stories, breaking news, announcements, events and blogs on our site.