A primary contest between two Duluth Republicans running for a state office is rarer than a snowstorm in September.

The last time snow hit Duluth in September was 1993, according to the National Weather Service. But even the most seasoned members of the region's GOP contingent can't remember when the last Republican primary was held.

But Tuesday, voters in the city's east side will pick between two Republicans to be the party's candidate for the Minnesota House District 7A contest Nov. 5.

Tuesday's 7A winner, either Al Johnson or Harry Welty, will square off against five-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party incumbent Rep. Tom Huntley.

James Gustafson, who held the then-8th State Senate District seat, was the last Republican lawmaker from the city, but he couldn't recall a party primary.

"I'm 125 years old and I can't remember one," Gustafson quipped. Really only 63, Gustafson wasn't alone in not recalling the last GOP primary.

Carl Meirick, 96, of Hermantown has been an active Republican since the early 1950s. He said he, too, couldn't recall a Republican primary for state office.

Ben Boo, former Duluth mayor and Republican lawmaker from Duluth, said he also never faced a primary challenge as a Republican.

A check of News Tribune records to 1974, the first year candidates were required by state law to file by party, also showed no Republican primaries for state House or Senate races.

"The area is so dominated by the DFL, it's hard to get one candidate, much less two," Gustafson said.

Still, Gustafson and other Republicans -- even the candidates -- see a party primary in a region dominated by the DFL as a good thing.

The primary draws attention to the party's position on issues and helps the winning candidate get noticed early in the election cycle.

"I think, if anything, it's a positive that there is that much activity in the party," Gustafson said.

NEWCOMER VS. VETERAN

That party activity pits Johnson, a political newcomer, against Welty, who has run in numerous state and local races since 1976.

Johnson, who grabbed the GOP's official endorsement over Welty during a party convention in July, said he believes the time is ripe to move against the DFL.

"There's never been more of an opportunity than now for a Republican to get into office," he said. Johnson's decision to get involved in state politics is based mostly on a personal philosophy.

"I can't complain about something that I'm not willing to take action on," he said.

More accountability for state spending and keeping taxes in check are his key issues, Johnson said.

Johnson, focused on defeating his fellow Republican, said he will worry later about downing Duluth's old guard DFLers.

"The only thing I'm focused on right now is getting by Sept. 10," he said.

SEASONED CANDIDATE

Welty, a member of the Duluth School Board, said he's running because he has better political experience than Johnson. He is hoping to appeal to voters who want to bring the Republican Party back to more moderate positions on social issues, he said.

"I'm part of a remnant of the old Republican Party," he said. Differing from the party platform, Welty supports abortion rights, believes gays and lesbians should have legal protection against discrimination, and "doesn't share the party's phobia against taxation."

"I like being able to defy the stereotype," he said.

Welty charges that both DFL and Republican convention delegates "have acted on the behalf of their extreme elements rather than the general voters."

Welty openly admits his legacy of running for office in Duluth and losing -- except for his election to the Duluth School Board in 1999 -- could hurt him Tuesday.

"In a way, I've managed to put myself behind the eight ball by being a perpetual loser," he said.

UPHILL FIGHT

Tuesday's winner will face an uphill battle against Huntley, who won re-election in 2000 with 61 percent of the vote.

Even though House District 7A has been significantly reshaped, Legislative redistricting in March pushed nine townships outside of Duluth from the district. Huntley enjoyed strong support in those townships, but he is still confident DFL support within city limits will be equally strong.

While Johnson and Welty spend much of their energy and campaign finances battling each other in the primary, Huntley can bide his time, rest, plan his fall strategy and save campaign finances for a strong showing before election day, he said.

"I'm going to do what I always do," Huntley said. "Basically wait until after the primary and then start campaigning."