Kline raised $450,000 during the last quarter of 2013, and entered this year with $1.6 million in cash on hand.

Johnson, a Hennepin County Commissioner, and Ortman, a state senator from Chanhassen, placed first in candidate straw polls cast by Republican Party of Minnesota activists gathered at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday. Johnson beat five other Republican candidates for governor with 35 percent of the vote, with state Sen. Dave Thompson coming in second with 27 percent of the vote.

The modern Congress is often faulted for its inability to actually accomplish much. Even still, the members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are as good as ever in at least on area: Raising money toward their own re-election. In keeping with that trend, third-quarter Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports find Minnesota’s delegation is pretty good at collecting checks, with at least one notable — if predictable — exception.

Jim Abeler is not running a traditional campaign for the United States Senate. Instead of spending hours making fundraising calls to beef up his campaign war chest, Abeler has spent most of his time in his car, driving from city to city to meet with Republican activists.

McFadden's campagin says they will report $1.2 million in cash-on-hand when they file their fundraising reports next week. The Republican financial executive is seeking the Republican nomination to run against incumbent DFL Sen. Al Franken next fall.

The St. Louis County commissioner, Republican and now-retired member of the U.S. Army reserves kicked of his campaign for the U.S. Senate last week.

St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg has joined the field of GOP contenders seeking to oust U.S. Sen. Al Franken in 2014. There are now six candidates looking to secure the Republican nomination.

State Sen. Julianne Ortman is in a four-way race for the Republican nomination to run for the U.S. Senate next fall, but you might not know it to talk with her.

The Republican fields for the 2014 governor and U.S. Senate races expanded last week. St. Louis County Board Chair Chris Dahlberg announced he’s running for U.S. Senate, and another Northlander, Rob Farnsworth, a special education teacher from Hibbing, joined the governor’s race.

The Republican fields for the 2014 governor and U.S. Senate races continued to expand this week. St. Louis County Board Chair Chris Dahlberg announced he’s running for Senate. And another Northlander, Rob Farnsworth, a special education teacher from Hibbing, got into the governor’s race.