Gruenhagen, Daudt win GOP endorsements for House

Glenn Gruenhagen of Glencoe on Tuesday night beat two other challengers for the GOP endorsement to succeed retiring Rep. Laura Brod, R-New Prague.

Gruenhagen, who owns an insurance agency, clinched the endorsement for District 25A on the second ballot. He beat Tony DeLuca of New Prague and Rolando Perez of New Prague. DeLuca told PIM this morning that the candidates are abiding by the endorsement.

Gruenhagen will face Montgomery Mayor Mick McGuire in the November general election.

The district leans Republican. But the area was once represented by former DFL House Speaker Bob Vanasek.

Also on Tuesday night, Republicans in District 17A endorsed Kurt Daudt of Zimmerman to run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Rob Eastlund, R-Isanti. He will face DFLer Jim Godfrey of Cambridge.

The 17A endorsement race had notable undercurrents of the recently concluded battle between Reps. Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer for the GOP gubernatorial endorsement. Daudt was Seifert’s campaign manager. His opponent for the endorsement, Chris Grams, is married to former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams, who was an early Emmer backer. Emmer won the endorsement at the GOP State Convention in Minneapolis on April 30.

For Emmer’s House District 19B seat, Republicans on Monday night endorsed Delano Mayor Joe McDonald. McDonald, who is the son of former state representative and current Watertown Mayor K.J. McDonald, won the endorsement on the second ballot over four other candidates.

DFLers have chosen Chris Brazelton to run in 19B.

For an up-to-date list of legislative candidates, please visit PIM’s list of 2010 incumbents and challengers.