The first Republican to launch a campaign for Minnesota governor in 2014 immediately changed the dynamics for all other candidates who would follow him. In April, Orono businessman Scott Honour became the first candidate openly seeking the office, promising to bring an outsider’s perspective to the job.

Hann, a four-term senator from Eden Prairie, issued a news release on Friday afternoon pulling his name from the possible field of candidates, saying he wants to focus on his job as minority leader in the upper chamber.

The Lakeville-area Republican announced his decision in a letter to Senate Minority Leader David Hann, who is also thinking about entering the 2014 field.

Ingebrigtsen, first elected to his Alexandria-area Senate seat in 2006, says he's been getting encouragement from supporters to run for the state's highest office and plans to make his decision final in "a month or a month and a half." He would join a growing field of GOP candidates seeking the office, including Rep. Kurt Zellers, Sen. Dave Thompson, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson and Orono businessman Scott Honour.

One potential 800-pound gorilla in the Republican field for Minnesota governor hasn’t even officially thrown her hat in the ring yet: state Sen. Julie Rosen, the four-term lawmaker from Fairmont who was the face of 2012’s successful legislative push for a new Vikings stadium.

Thompson was surrounded by his family in St. Paul as he announced his campaign, before making stops in Duluth and his hometown of Lakeville. The attorney and former talk show host filed his campaign paperwork earlier this week and joins Republican Rep. Kurt Zellers, Wayzata businessman Scott Honour and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson in race to take on DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.

State Sen. Dave Thompson registered a campaign committee to run for governor on Monday. Thompson becomes the fourth GOP candidate seeking to take on DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.

Legislation allowing day care providers and personal care assistants to join labor unions was arguably the most contentious issue of the legislative session. The proposal was debated for 27 hours on the House and Senate floors, longer than any other bill considered in 2013. Ultimately, the proposal cleared the House by the narrowest of margins, 68-66, on the final day of session.

The survey conducted earlier this week by Public Policy Polling revealed 49 percent approval and 47 percent disapproval for Dayton.

Politicians give speeches for a living. We asked the Capitol Insiders which of the current legislators are the best orators? Here are their top answers.