A trio of Democratic candidates received their party’s endorsement in races for Minnesota state Legislature over the weekend. At the Senate District 15 DFL convention in Redwood Falls, Andrea Boettger of New Ulm received the endorsement for state Senate in SD 15. Nathan Schmig of Minneota received the endorsement for state House District 15A, and Keith Klawitter of Morgan received the endorsement for House District 15B.

Boettger, a New Ulm City Council member, will be running for state Senate in the district currently represented by Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls. Dahms has announced that he will retire at the end of his current term. Earlier this spring, Marshall area resident Braxton Seifert received the Republican endorsement to run in SD 15.

The current representatives in House Districts 15A and 15B, Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, and Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, have also announced they will not run again. Redwood Falls resident Geri Theis will be running as a Republican candidate in District 15B.

Swedzinski announced his decision not to seek re-election after the SD 15 Republican convention had already been held, so a separate endorsing convention for House District 15 A will be held May 4 in Cottonwood. Three area residents, Hunter McFall, Brad Hennen and David Sturrock, have all announced their candidacy for District 15A.

Members of the public will have a chance to hear a Republican candidate forum tonight at the MERIT Center in Marshall. A meet and greet with the three candidates is planned to start at 5:30 p.m., with the forum starting at 6.