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Jim Vickerman

Nov 9, 2012

DFL majorities pick their leaders

Close on the heels of Tuesday’s election, members of the new DFL House and Senate majorities gathered behind closed doors on Thursday to elect their leaders. As expected, the minority leaders who helped steer Democrats back into control — Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook — were elevated to House speaker and Senate majority leader.

Sep 14, 2012

Country strong: DFLers like prospects in SD22

Senate District 22 covers a sprawling nine-county swath of southwestern Minnesota that borders both South Dakota and Iowa. Partisans on both sides agree that the district is staunchly conservative.

Jun 27, 2012

Where the Senate battlegrounds are

Political operatives who have been crunching the numbers and talking to candidates see no shortage of swing districts in this year’s legislative elections. The new redistricting maps have tweaked the partisan complexion of many districts.

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.

Jan 27, 2011

Langseth to retire after term ends

State Senate stalwart Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, likely won't pursue an 11th term in 2012.

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 3, 2010

Legislature sees a DFL drubbing for the ages

Republicans pummeled DFLers in the suburbs and greater Minnesota on Tuesday night to take control of both chambers of the Legislature for the first time since the modern partisan era started in the early 1970s.

Sep 8, 2010

Vickerman’s seat primed for a flip?

State Sen. Jim Vickerman calls himself the most conservative Democrat in Minnesota, and he has a voting record to bolster that claim. The seven-term lawmaker has represented Senate District 22 with a light hand since 1986. The rural area has, with the exception of Vickerman, consistently voted Republican over the last decade.

Aug 20, 2010

More committee shakeups in Senate?

Chaudhary's primary loss made him the body's fifth departing chair

Aug 13, 2010

Analysts tussle over election outlook at PIM-sponsored election preview

Hours after Tuesday's DFL primary, the Minnesota GOP launched a TV ad attack calling DFLer Mark Dayton "erratic" and wondering out loud what frequency he was on.

May 21, 2010

Southwestern Minnesota: a DFL-free zone?

Voters in a large chunk of southern Minnesota farm country may not see DFL candidates on the ballot in a number of state House and Senate races this November.

May 5, 2010

Kohls, Brod join ranks of the departing

The door marked “exit” at the Minnesota state Capitol will get a workout at the end of the 2010 session, with 17 legislators (so far) announcing that they’re not seeking re-election in the fall.

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