Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, thinks Mohamud Noor needs to make up his mind. Kahn, one of the longest-tenured legislators in state history said she is not surprised to have a Democratic opponent for the party endorsement.

Legislation that would tax and regulate "little cigars" the same as cigarettes will get its first hearing in the Senate on Wednesday.

While seniority ruled in the majority's selections for committee chairs, a number of newly elected senators will serve as committee vice-chairs.

Voters are faced with a familiar dilemma in the heart of the Minnesota Iron Range. The unexpected retirement of 26-year DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina at the end of session has left a big hole in DFL-friendly House District 6B, which stretches across cities like Virginia and Eveleth and includes some of the state’s most mining-dependent towns.

Sen. John Harrington’s legislative career will come to a close after just two years. In 2010 the former St. Paul police chief easily won an eight-candidate DFL primary to replace retiring Sen. Mee Moua.

Attorney Susan Allen was elected in House District 61B, replacing former Rep. Jeff Hayden. Hennepin County staffer Kari Dziedzic easily won the Senate District 59 seat in northeast Minneapolis to replace former Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller.

Kari Dziedzic was the winner in the crowded field of DFLers seeking the nomination to succeed former Sen. Larry Pogemiller. Mohamud Noor finished second in a crowded field of DFLers.

At a candidate screening Thursday evening, Noor won the endorsement with 62 percent of the vote on the second ballot from the liberal advocacy group.

Senate District 59, which encompasses the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota and northeast Minneapolis, is home to one of the most concentrated DFL constituencies in Minnesota.

In the race for dollars, Kari Dziedzic and Peter Wagenius bested the pack of DFLers vying for the nomination in the Senate District 59 race to succeed former Sen. Larry Pogemiller. The amount of money raised in a month of campaigning exceeds the amounts raised by many legislative campaigns in an entire election year.