State Rep. Connie Doepke, a two-term Republican from Orono, hopes to move up to the state Senate but was denied the GOP endorsement last month in Senate District 33.
Doepke plans to run in the August primary anyway, challenging endorsed candidate David Osmek, a Mound City Council member. She told MPR:
"I didn't feel that my constituents had the representation at the endorsing convention that they deserved. People have called me and said they want me to run in the primary."
Osmek said he's disappointed that she is running against him.
The state Senate seat is open this year, following the retirement of nine-term GOP state Sen. Gen Olson.