After seven rounds of voting, members of the Republican Party backed St. Cloud business owner Tama Theis in the race for the House District 14A seat, the St. Cloud Times reports. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, who resigned from the Minnesota Legislature last week to take a lobbying job.

The newspaper notes Theis will face likely DFL endorsee Joanne Dorsher in a special election on Feb. 12. If a special primary is needed, it will take place on Jan. 29.

There will be another special election Feb. 12 to fill the seat vacated by DFL Rep. Terry Morrow who announced after the November election that he was taking another job in Chicago.

Rep. Allen Quist won the GOP endorsement for the newly open District 19A seat. He lost his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., in November.