With big piles of money and high stakes, candidates for governor, Congress and the U.S. Senate have so far absorbed most of the attention when it comes to fundraising. But they aren’t the only politicos who turned in fundraising disclosures in January after clamoring for donations in 2013.

Greta Bergstrom’s campaign strategy to win the DFL endorsement for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Michael Paymar is simple, according to her campaign co-chair. “Get out in front and get people backing you right from the start,” St. Paul City Council member Amy Brendmoen said.

Bergeron works as a committee administrator on the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee.

Bergstrom said Sunday she will seek the DFL endorsement to run for House District 64B next fall, which covers the Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland neighborhoods of St. Paul. She joins three other candidates in the race, including former House staffer Melanie McMahon, St. Paul mayoral aide Matt Freeman and longtime activist Gloria Zaiger. Paymar recently announced he would not seek re-election to the seat.

Dayton's and Franken's relative unpopularity does not seem to have hurt their party.

Minnesota House seats like one now represented by St. Paul DFL Rep. Michael Paymar don’t open up that often. Like many urban districts, it’s a safe haven for Democrats — and the sort of prize that is rarely put up for grabs. Paymar has represented House District 64B for 17 years, winning re-election with margins around 70 percent or higher in the last four cycles.

Seifert's roll-out was accompanied by perhaps the most comprehensive and ambitious gubernatorial platform yet seen in the race.

Paymar's announcement set off waves of speculation over who might run to replace him.