Julie Bunn was one of five DFL candidates who, along with the state DFL Party and the DFL Senate Caucus, were accused of colluding on independent expenditures made by the party. Bunn said she received the board's decision in a letter dated Oct. 16.

The Republican Party of Minnesota alleges that the DFL party and its candidates are guilty of colluding on independent expenditures.

Karin Housley’s route into Minnesota politics has been anything but typical. In 2010, the real estate agent and wife of NHL hall of famer Phil Housley ran a close race against incumbent DFL Sen. Katie Sieben in Senate District 57, losing by only 606 votes.

It’s not hard to see why campaign operatives from both political parties have had Minnesota’s newly drawn Senate District 53 on their radar since day one.

The last three election cycles have proven the voters of House District 39B to be independent-minded and evenly divided. While consecutive “wave” elections have rolled in both directions, the district has been the site of a series of nail-biters.

Three sitting GOP legislators from the western Twin Cities suburbs face tough primary contests next week.

Near-miss 2010 GOP challenger Karin Housley mounts primary bid for retiree Vandeveer’s seat

It’s not uncommon for a legislator or two to announce their retirements after the end of session. But 2012 has seen more last-minute departures than many political pros can ever recall.

Bunn, who lost her re-election bid in the suburban House District 56A last fall by 5 percentage points, is plotting a run in Senate District 39.

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.