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.

Pam Wolf is not easily deterred. She first ran for the Legislature in 2004, losing a House race to incumbent DFL Rep. Connie Bernardy by 13 percentage points. Two years later, Wolf took on DFL Sen. Don Betzold, losing that time by 9 percentage points.

In a press conference in the State Office Building, House Speaker Kurt Zellers lauded the slate of candidates they have recruited for the fall elections and railed on DFLers and Gov. Mark Dayton's administration for trying to raise taxes, "force" unionization of daycare providers and for putting state government spending on "autopilot."

The seat is currently held by another Republican – freshman Rep. Branden Petersen – but Benz expects her hometown of Coon Rapids to be redistricted into an open legislative seat next year.