BELGRADE -- Joe Gimse of Willmar received the Republican endorsement to run for the Minnesota State Senate in District 13 Friday evening.
Senate Ma-jority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, currently holds the seat.
Gimse was endorsed on the first ballot with 66 percent of the vote at an endorsing convention in Belgrade.
Also endorsed was Rep. Bud Heidgerken, R-Freeport, who serves Minnesota House District 13A.
Bonnie Wilhelm of Willmar was endorsed a week ago to run in House District 13B. Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, currently holds that seat in the Legislature.
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Gimse also ran unsuccessfully against Johnson four years ago and ran against Juhnke in the 1990s.
Because he came within 4 percent of defeating Johnson four years ago, Gimse said he feels he has a good chance to win his race with Johnson this year.
Gimse defeated an opponent, Diane Vlach of Willmar, who also ran unsuccessfully against Johnson in the past.
"I was tickled that we were able to win the endorsement on the first ballot," Gimse said Sunday evening. He said it is a sign of delegates' "faith and belief that we can win the seat."
Gimse owns a residential construction and land development company based in Willmar. He is a graduate of Willmar Senior High and of Willmar Community College.
Senate District 13 includes all of Kandiyohi and Pope counties and western Stearns County. District 13A includes western Stearns, all of Pope and a portion of northern Kandiyohi County. District 13B includes most of Kandiyohi County.
