In a campaign that has been defined by endorsements, Nolan announced Gauthier's support late last week. Gauthier, a social services worker and former Duluth City Councilor, is serving his first term in the Legislature.

The House passed its state government finance bill after more than six hours of floor debate on a 72-61 party-line vote. Legislators sparred over cuts to the state workforce and reforms to state government.

Dogged by allegations of politically motivated cuts - and beset by criticisms and questions about some of its funding mechanisms - the House State Government Finance bill has become a controversial and complex affair.

New faces fill seats previously held by Kelliher, Prettner Solon, Moua

The filing deadline has come and gone. Candidates for the Minnesota Legislature are hitting the stump. But Democrats in 13 House and Senate districts and Republicans in 10 others will have to win in August to compete in November. Here are 10 legislative primaries to watch.

As Minnesota’s Republican Party was giddily tweeting the news that the party had fielded candidates for all 201 seats in the state Legislature for the first time in 30 years, the Independence Party of Minnesota was quietly celebrating its own milestone: 16 candidates for the Legislature in 2010, seven in Senate districts and nine in House districts.

Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon has endorsed Duluth City Councilor Patrick Boyle to succeed her in what has become known as the Solon seat in the Minnesota Senate.