ST. PAUL — Democrats in St. Peter, North Mankato and surrounding communities have chosen a college professor as their candidate for an open state House seat.

Minnesota State University professor Clark Johnson won the special primary election Tuesday night. The election was held so voters could choose a Democrat to run for the seat left open by the retirement of DFL Rep. Terry Morrow of St. Peter.

The other candidates were North Mankato farmer Karl Johnson, North Mankato teacher and union activist Robin Courrier, and St. Peter Mayor Tim Strand. But they’d suspended their campaigns after Clark Johnson received the DFL endorsement and urged Democrats to support him.

The special election will be Feb. 12. The Republican candidate is former state Rep. Allen Quist, and the Independence Party’s candidate is Tim Gieseke.