DFLers endorse retired St. Cloud music teacher for House 14A race

ST. CLOUD — Tami Calhoun defeated another DFLer for the party's nomination in state House District 14A, bringing her a step closer to the fall election against incumbent Rep. Tama Theis, R-St. Cloud. 

The race may well end up Tama versus Tami. 

Calhoun taught music for 34 years in the St. Cloud school district. Students and parents may remember her as Ms. K-C or Ms. Kolb-Campion. She remarried in 2011 and retired in 2015. 

Calhoun won the DFL nomination over Joe Baratta, union shop committee chairman at Electrolux, in an online endorsing convention. The results came in Wednesday evening, according to Emily Esch, chairwoman of the Senate District 14 DFL. 

Baratta is suspending his campaign and supports Calhoun as the party's candidate, he told the St. Cloud Times by text message Thursday.

RELATED: Retired St. Cloud music teacher running for House seat 14A

The Senate District 14 convention was originally scheduled for March 14 and was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Like other political conventions this year, it was held in an online format. 

"Watching the coronavirus challenges unfold, breaks my heart and makes me ready for action," said Calhoun in a Wednesday statement from her campaign.

District 14A includes western St. Cloud, Waite Park and St. Augusta.

RELATED: St. Cloud Rep. Tama Theis will run for a 5th term in 2020 

Calhoun grew up in Ortonville along the South Dakota border. Her father was a Republican and her mother a Democrat, she told the St. Cloud Times in February. 

She's an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and long-time volunteer with the interfaith advocacy group ISAIAH. 

Theis, a local business owner, is running for her fifth term. 

If other party members run against Theis or Calhoun, the primary election will take place Aug. 11. Election Day is Nov. 3. 

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