State primary date change gets blocked in Senate

 The Minnesota Senate has rejected a proposal to change the date of the statewide primary from August to June, according to the Associated Press.

The provision was part of a larger elections bill, which was voted down 35-30 because many Senators were not in favor of moving the primary back. The bill now heads back to a conference committee, where the primary date change could be taken out.

The House voted to add the primary date change amendment to the bill in early April. The bill returned to the Senate, where it originally passed without the primary change 60-1.

Proponents argue that legislators would have more time to get to know constituents and limit election battles within parties. Opponents say it would interfere with the legislative session.