MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The No. 2 Republican in the Minnesota Senate has made it past a conservative rival in a Republican primary in the southwestern Twin Cities suburbs.

Sen. Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen defeated auto mechanic Bruce Schwichtenberg on Tuesday in a district that stretches from Chanhassen to Waconia and Norwood Young America.

Schwichtenberg said Ortman didn’t attack state spending aggressively enough once Republicans took over the Senate two years ago.

Ortman stepped up her campaigning as she faced her first primary challenge since winning her seat.

She will face former Carver Mayor James Weygand in the November election.

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