Political and ideological opponents did not waste their chance to grab some of the spotlight from Tuesday's groundbreaking.

If it’s possible to judge a legislator’s re-election vulnerability solely on the number of challengers that he or she attracts, then Lisa Fobbe, Jim Carlson and Kevin Dahle should probably watch their backs.

Eight Minnesota legislative incumbents -- five DFLers and three Republicans -- are facing challenges from members of their own parties this year, not counting six incumbents who have said that they aren't seeking re-election and have fellow party members lining up to succeed them.

Homegirl Margaret Anderson Kelliher was a Tuesday night no-show at a pair of precinct caucuses in her House district, but she was still Uptown's DFL darling. The caucuses took place on turf that both Kelliher and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak could claim as their own, with the House Speaker besting the Minneapolis mayor, 40 straw-poll votes to 30.

Five more challengers have filed papers to take on incumbent state legislators. There are now 40 House challengers in 35 districts, with 31 Republicans and nine Democrats. On the senate side, 32 challengers have formed campaign committees, roughly two thirds of them Republicans.