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1st Congressional District race: Rob Zerban defeats son of Sikh Temple president, Amar Kaleka

Published  August 12, 2014 10:41pm CDT
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Kenosha businessman Rob Zerban has defeated independent filmmaker Amar Kaleka to win the right to run against U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.

Amar Kaleka



Kaleka is the son of the Sikh temple president who was killed along with five others in a shooting rampage at their Milwaukee-area temple. He made a splash when he announced his candidacy for the 1st District congressional seat but his campaign was mostly silent.

The 46-year-old Zerban has a solid base among Democrats in Kenosha County, where he previously served on the county board.

He ran against Republican Ryan in 2012, losing 55 percent to 43 percent. But the 12-percentage-point margin of victory was the narrowest of Ryan's eight election wins.