The Senate District 49 contest will almost certainly be the most expensive legislative race in the state. In pre-primary campaign finance filings, DFL challenger Melisa Franzen and GOP state Rep. Keith Downey reported raising roughly $115,000 – easily the highest statewide total.

Rep. Frank Hornstein narrowly defeated Rep. Marion Greene in a DFL endorsement contest Saturday for a South Minneapolis seat. Greene conceded defeat after the third ballot.

Last Saturday GOP activists gathered in Burnsville to determine who would be the endorsed candidate in House District 56A. No incumbent is running for re-election in the district, which leans heavily Republican.

In recent weeks, two GOP legislators in Senate District 49 -- Sen. Geoff Michel and Rep. Pat Mazorol -- have announced that they won't be running for re-election this year. That news caught Republicans in the district -- which includes Edina, and parts of Minnetonka and Bloomington -- off guard.