The last remaining DFL-controlled legislative seat in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District might be up for grabs this fall, as a well-known former legislator from the Pawlenty era returns to challenge a freshman representative to represent St. Cloud.

Haws, who represented House District 15B from 2005 until 2010, was 72 years old. In January of 2011 he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Special elections last year sent three DFLers and one Republican to the Capitol.

Terri Bonoff, a DFLer, and Amy Koch, a Republican, were elected to the Minnesota Senate last week. Two more special elections are planned before the end of the year.

The makeup of the state Legislature that will sit down for the 2006 session starting in March may depend on what happens in St. Cloud. ...