Jim Carlson

Jul 6, 2011

Aside from the occasional heckler, politicos encountered little shutdown static

Eagan resident Mike Owens made sure to shake freshman Republican Rep. Doug Wardlow’s hand when he walked by on his Fourth of July parade route Monday morning. Owens urged Wardlow to pass racino legislation and fight Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed tax increases and “inflated budget” to the end, even as legislators and the governor headed into the fourth day of a historic government shutdown. �[...]

Jun 3, 2011

Several DFL legislators defeated in 2010 are getting back in the saddle

For former DFL Sen. Jim Carlson, it was a matter of a little reflection and time to “lick my wounds” before he knew he was ready to run again for the state Senate. Carlson, who served one term in the chamber, was ousted last fall by Republican newcomer Ted Daley as part of a massive GOP wave that saw the party take control of both the House and Senate for the first time in nearly four decades.

Apr 27, 2011

Gambling bills may be headed for photo finish

In previous legislative sessions, proposals to expand gambling have attracted more support from Republicans than DFLers. Given Minnesota's $5 billion state budget deficit and the new Republican majorities in the House and Senate, gambling proposals would seem to stand a much-improved chance of landing on the governor's desk as part of a budget agreement.

Nov 17, 2010

GOP leaders talk about how they flipped a veto-proof majority in Senate

Late last week, three of the principal architects of the Republicans' Minnesota Senate takeover gathered in Sen. Amy Koch's office for one last time to talk about how they'd pulled it off.

Nov 12, 2010

Meet the freshmen: Senate GOP edition

As Charley Shaw writes this week, the new Republican majority in the Minnesota Senate appears dedicated to projecting a considerably more conservative face when Session 2011 convenes in seven weeks.

Oct 27, 2010

Party units spend on lege races in late going

A negative mailing arrived in Republican state Senate candidate Dan Hall's district last weekend that caught him by surprise.

Oct 8, 2010

Legislative candidates begin final push

Political action committees and legislative caucuses have already done mailings assailing the opposition. But now that the campaign has entered the final month, the rough-and-tumble race for the Legislature is kicking into high gear.

Sep 29, 2010

Republicans anxious to reverse recent DFL gains in Pawlenty’s old stomping grounds

In 2004, Jim Carlson took on first-term Republican Rep. Lynn Wardlow in House District 38B. The race was a decidedly uphill battle.

Aug 25, 2010

DFL lege candidates bank more in public campaign subsidies

This week's distribution of state public campaign subsidy checks are a windfall particularly for DFL legislative candidates.

Jul 9, 2010

13 could be lucky number for Senate GOP

Around convention time in the spring, Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, boasted that his caucus would retake the chamber’s majority in November. Considering Senate Republicans’ 38-year stranglehold on minority status, and the 13 seats that his troops will need to gain to make good on the pledge, it amounts to a tall order.

Jul 3, 2010