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.

Catching up with four former GOP legislators.

The House race in St. Cloud’s District 14A didn’t garner much attention in last year’s campaign. As far as media and activists were concerned, all the action was in neighboring 14B, where a DFL challenger, Zach Dorholt, eventually knocked off first-term GOP Rep. King Banaian.

Rumblings about the marriage amendment’s unpopularity in the western suburbs came early in the campaign season. Orange and blue “vote no” signs vastly outnumbered “vote yes” ones, particularly in places like Edina, and Republican candidates running for the Legislature avoided the issue at the doors and in debates at all cost.

For better or worse, Michael Brodkorb was back on the campaign trail last week. This time, however, the former GOP attack dog, deputy Republican Party chair and Senate communications guru who helped mastermind the 2010 GOP takeover of the chamber has materialized in a glossy pink and blue mailer that’s being used to attack Republicans.

Two years ago, the contest for an open St. Cloud-area House seat was the closest in the state. On Election Day the results showed that Republican King Banaian eked out a 10-vote victory over DFLer Carol Lewis. Following an automatic recount, that margin stretched to 13 votes out of nearly 11,000 cast.

The Senate District 49 race has resulted in the largest haul so far with more than $100,000 in political contributions. Campaign finance reports have revealed this and a lot more, including some notable financial mismatches as well as challengers bringing in more than incumbents.

On the anniversary of the start of last year's 20-day government shutdown and at the start of a critical legislative campaign season, D FL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen took the podium to blame the Republican majorities for the historic shuttering of state government and ask Minnesotans to avoid a “shutdown sequel" by electing DFL majorities.

The last two election cycles have witnessed wave elections for both parties that tilted the Minnesota House of Representatives in polar opposite directions.

After a pair of marathon floor debates, the House and Senate passed legislation this week authorizing construction of a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.