Despite the presence of a popular incumbent who has trounced his last several challengers, Republicans have fielded a well-known candidate in the 7th Congressional District. To hear some of that area’s activists tell it, the first GOP entrant in that race might be the party’s best chance in years to oust DFL U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson.

A national Republican group is hammering DFLers in three greater Minnesota congressional districts over the technical failures that have beset the rollout of the federal health insurance exchange.

True story: Collin Peterson used to have a tough time getting elected to Congress. It took Peterson four tries before he finally defeated Republican incumbent Arlan Stangeland in 1990. Then Peterson faced back-to-back challenges from Republican Bernie Omann. In 1992 and 1994, Peterson held his seat, defeating Omann by a combined tally of fewer than 9,000 votes.

For the last 10 years, state Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, has lived at the northern end of his north central Minnesota district. When the redistricting maps were announced last winter, the powerful chairman of the House Capital Investment Committee found himself on the southern fringe of a new district.

Michele Bachmann, running for her fourth term representing Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional district, pulled in just more than $1 million in the month of July, easily surpassing her fellow Minnesota Congressmen and women in total fundraising hauls, as well as her Democratic opponent Jim Graves, who raised $64,000 in that period.

Minnesota House and Senate candidates took in more than $6 million during the second quarter of 2012, according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann raked in the biggest haul at $1.9 million. That's more than six times the amount raised by DFL challenger Jim Graves in the Sixth Congressional District.

It’s a bit of déjà vu for Republican activists in the 1st Congressional District. Just two years ago, delegates at the endorsing convention had to pick between state legislator Randy Demmer and former legislator and conservative stalwart Allen Quist for the party’s backing in the race.

Lee Byberg will get a second chance at knocking off 11-term DFL incumbent Rep. Collin Peterson in the 7th Congressional District. Byberg defeated state Sen. Gretchen Hoffman on the first ballot to secure the GOP endorsement at Saturday's convention in Alexandria.

U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson has picked up another Republican challenger in the 7th Congressional District in western Minnesota. State Sen. Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vergas, has announced her plans to challenge the conservative Democrat. Her announcement resolves the conflict that arose when the Senate districts were redrawn to put Hoffman and fellow Senate Republican Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria in the same district.

Minnesota’s reapportioned congressional map yielded one well-publicized surprise by placing the home of Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of the 6th Congressional District into the 4th District, which is represented by DFL U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum.