Two years ago Foung Hawj was an also-ran in the Senate District 67 contest. In a nine-candidate DFL primary field, he finished with 10 percent of the vote — more than 20 points behind the winner, former St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington.

Former state Rep. Cy Thao last was on the ballot in 2008. The four-term St. Paul DFLer opted not to run for re-election last year.

Following Thao's retirement, district voters will send a new representative to the Legislature in November, and by all accounts that will be the DFL-backed candidate, Rena Moran.

When Kathy Lantry’s mom was growing up in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul in the 1940s, the Sacred Heart Church held Masses in both English and German. Today the Roman Catholic parish still conducts Mass in a pair of languages, but the non-English service has changed to Spanish.

The filing deadline has come and gone. Candidates for the Minnesota Legislature are hitting the stump. But Democrats in 13 House and Senate districts and Republicans in 10 others will have to win in August to compete in November. Here are 10 legislative primaries to watch.

If the phrase “sure thing” can be applied anywhere in politics, it might be appropriate in a small part of St. Paul, including Falcon Heights and a swath of territory north of Interstate 94.

"This is my replacement!" Rep. Cy Thao introduces Jeremiah Ellis to Rep. Mary Murphy.

Republicans are sensing blood in the water of more than a dozen state House and Senate districts, and they’re circling.

If it’s possible to judge a legislator’s re-election vulnerability solely on the number of challengers that he or she attracts, then Lisa Fobbe, Jim Carlson and Kevin Dahle should probably watch their backs.

Jeremiah Ellis won the DFL-endorsement to fill an open state House seat in St. Paul. Ellis defeated three challengers at Saturday's endorsing convention to secure party backing. He hopes to replace Rep. Cy Thao, who is not seeking a fifth term at the Capitol.