ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Primary voters have narrowed the choices for two October special elections to fill vacant Minnesota Senate seats long represented by Democrats.

South Minneapolis Democrats picked state Rep. Jeff Hayden on Tuesday from a field of six candidates vying to succeed Sen. Linda Berglin, who resigned after almost four decades in the Legislature.

Hayden will face the Independence Party’s Matt Brillhart, Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem and Republican Bruce Lundeen in the Oct. 18 special election.

Democrats in the northwestern suburbs nominated Chris Eaton for an open seat long held by the late Sen. Linda Scheid, who died of cancer in June.

Republicans in the same Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center district picked Cory Jensen as their candidate.

Eaton and Jensen will be on the Oct. 18 ballot with Independence Party candidate Tom Reynolds.

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