Complex sentence: He had defeated businessman and furniture store owner Paul Wallace (1896-1969), a former member of the Minden City Council, by 87 votes in the April 6 Democratic primary, 1,437 (51.6 percent) to 1,350 (48.4 percent).
Split into simpler sentences: He had defeated by 87 votes businessman and furniture store owner Paul Wallace (1896-1969), a former member of the Minden City Council. The tally in the April 6 Democratic primary was, 1,437 (51.6 percent) to 1,350 (48.4 percent).