Former Republican U.S. Sen. Rod Grams, who was ousted by DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton in 2000, will serve as interim chief of staff for 8th Congressional District Representative-elect Chip Cravaack.

Chip Cravaack pulled off one of the most stunning political upsets in Minnesota history, knocking off 18-term U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar in the 8th Congressional District. The GOP challenger received 48 percent of the vote, besting the incumbent by nearly 5,000 votes.

Rep. Michele Bachmann Rep. Michele Bachmann Michele Bachmann has her eyes on a leadership post in the House GOP caucus, according to a report from Fox News. Reporter Chad Pergram says there's a "draft" Bachmann effort being pushed by conservative legislators.

A new KSTP/SurveyUSA poll shows a dead heat in the race for the Eighth Congressional District, with 18-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar leading Republican challenger Chip Cravaack only 47 to 46.

National political pundit Larry Sabato has released his final "crystal ball" predictions for the 2010 elections. The director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics anticipates Republicans picking up 55 seats and taking control of the House. Sabato sees the three Minnesota incumbents considered to be in some peril -- DFLers Jim Oberstar and Tim Walz, and Republican Michele Bachmann -- retaining their seats.

Former Republican governors Al Quie and Arne Carlson both agree that they want Independence Party candidate Tom Horner in the governor's office next year, but they don't see eye-to-eye on who should sit in Congress represnting southern Minnesota.

Duluth daily's editorial board praises Cravaack as a political novice and fiscal conservative. Oberstar slams paper's absentee ownership.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz raised just over $400,000 in the third quarter of 2010 and finished September with roughly $800,000 in the bank. GOP challenger Randy Demmer took in slightly less than $200,000 and had $230,000 cash on hand at the end of the quarter.

DFL state Sen. Tarryl Clark has raised $1.8 million since July in her bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota's Sixth District.

Honeywell International's political action committee is the top donor to House and Senate campaigns this election cycle, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. The aerospace and defense contractor, which was founded in Minneapolis in 1885, has doled out $3 million in federal campaign contributions this election cycle.