Koering will skip the endorsing convention, go straight to primary
Sen. Paul Koering, the Fort Ripley Republican who has represented Senate District 12 since 2003 and has won multiple endorsements from the Republican Party dating back to 1996, will skip his party's endorsing convention this year.
Paul Koering
Koering announced Friday he'll go straight to the people in the Aug. 10 primary. He said he wants all the people of Senate District 12 to decide who should be the Republican candidate.
Koering was challenged for the Republican endorsement in 2006 by Brainerd City Council member Kevin Goedker. This year he's being challenged for the endorsement by former Rep. Paul Gazelka of rural Brainerd. Goedker is running for the House District 12A endorsement.
"I think it's pretty clear this is the same group of people that tried in 2006 to get rid of me," he said. "The people spoke loud and clear last time (in the primary and general election). I believe they're going to speak loudly and very clearly and say no. If you recall, I was re-elected by about 12 points, which in politics is a huge win and Rep. Gazelka and Rep. (Greg) Blaine were defeated.
"I assume the full weight of the state Republican Party will come down on me hard, trying to defeat me, which is unfortunate but I'm going to take it to the people."
He declined to speculate whether he could receive enough votes to win the endorsement.
"I guess we'll never know that," he said.
He said Democrats have encouraged him to join their party and he considered running as an independent candidate but he wanted to stay with the Republican Party.
"I still believe the Republican Party best fits my philosophy," he said.
He said he hasn't voted the party line on every issue. Rather, he said, he has represented his district.
"It doesn't appear there's room for independent thinkers in the Republican Party. We used to call ourselves Independent-Republicans - that's what I am."
The second-term senator said the endorsing convention has kind of exhausted itself, noting that primary challenges are common in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Koering has scheduled two town meetings for March 27, the same day as the Senate District 12 endorsing contest. He said he'll spend the day personally asking the voters of the district for their vote.
The incumbent senator said he has gained seniority and experience during his tenure in the Senate.
"I'm confident and hopeful the people will send me down to the Capitol to continue to serve them," he said.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.