Facing formidable opposition from Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, and retired venture capitalist Scott Honour, Johnson trumpeted his status as the party’s endorsee throughout the summer-long primary campaign.

Two legislative mainstays win primary election challenges as voters appear to be in no mood to stir things up.

The most recent round of fundraising disclosures finds the top-tier field picking up where they left off earlier this summer, which means each of the four GOP entrants is well behind Dayton’s strength in monetary terms

Kurt Zellers touts the pragmatism he learned as a North Dakota farm boy, defends his leadership record in the Legislature, and, as befits any Republican girding for an intramural brawl, emphasizes his conservative credentials.