Primary 2014: Hagedorn wins GOP primary in 1st District

Jim Hagedorn campaigning in downtown Mankato.
First District Republican candidate for Congress Jim Hagedorn campaigning in downtown Mankato at the end of July.
Mark Zdechlik / MPR News

Blue Earth businessman Jim Hagedorn defeated the Republican endorsee in the 1st Congressional District Tuesday, winning the right to challenge four-term Rep. Tim Walz.

Hagedorn defeated Aaron Miller, who won the party endorsement this spring but who drew criticism from Hagedorn for not campaigning aggressively.

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With nearly all precincts reporting, Hagedorn had 53 percent of the vote.

Miller, a political newcomer, is a Byron healthcare industry account manager, and was the better financed candidate.

But after losing the endorsement contest, Hagedorn said he re-entered the race because Miller wasn't running an aggressive campaign.

Hagedorn's father, Tom, served in Congress.

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