Randy Kelly, the Bush-Backing Norm Coleman clone Mayor of St. Paul was stunned tonight in the cities Mayoral primary by former Councilman Chris Coleman (no relation)
With all the votes apparantly in, here's the numbers:
Chris Coleman (D) 13,041 - 52%
Randy Kelly (no endorsement) 6,740 - 27%
Elizabeth Dickinson (G) 4,905 - 19%
The top two go on, so Kelly survives, more analysis below the flip.
This is a HUGE win for Chris Coleman, and a stunning setback for Kelly, and his GOP backers. The fact that Dickinson, a marginal Green candidate with solid grassroots and no money pushed him to within 2,000 votes of a primary defeat sends a clear message. The voters in St. Paul want the bum out.
Presuming the majority of Dickinson supporters throw their votes to Coleman, this race is over. However, Kelly's big money men and deep pockets may try to buy this race, and Kelly has been known as a strong finisher, besting Councilman Jay Bennanav in 2001 for the post by less than 2%.
Across the river, there was far less drama tonight R.T. Rybak, the embattled incumbant Mayor scored a decent showing, over his two opponents:
R. T. Rybak 14,766 44
Peter McLaughlin 11,734 35
Farheen Hakeem 4,596 14
Rybak and McLaughlin battled to a draw at the Dems nominating convention, and Hakeem was a strong upstart for the Greens, who have had some success at the local level. Rybak and McLaughlin will face off in what is already becoming a nasty battle centering on the cities rising crime rate and cuts to first responder budgets.