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Mark Koran of Lent Township will challenge incumbent Sean Nienow for the Republican state senate District 32 endorsement.  Koran registered his campaign with the state campaign finance board  November 5.  District 32 includes all of Chisago County, minus the lower southeast corner,  which is represented by Sen. Karin Housley, R- St Mary’s Point.

Koran released a statement announcing his intention to run against his own party incumbent and describes himself as a no-nonsense common sense conservative.

Koran serves on the Lent Township Planning Commission and has been active in a number of local land use issues.  He is employed as a senior sales manager for a financial institution and formerly worked as a manager with the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Political parties in Minnesota caucus in early March,  and the state conventions deciding party endorsement, follow soon after.

 Nienow announced on his Facebook page that he will seek re-election;  surprising  many state government observers after he publicly acknowledged that  he failed to make payments on a several hundred thousand dollar Small Business Administration loan, and filed bankruptcy.

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