Former state Rep. Shelley Madore will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline for Minnesota's Second Congressional District in November.

Long-time DFL communications pro Leslie Sandberg has been hired as the communications director at the St. Paul Public School District.

Maureen Reed has ended her campaign for the DFL nomination in the Sixth Congressional District. The decision clears the way for state Sen. Tarryl Clark to take on GOP incumbent Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The vote was stalled at 33-33 in the Minnesota Senate on a bill that opted to raise taxes on the state’s highest wage-earners. The measure reflected DFL legislative leaders’ plan to help fill a budget hole that was suddenly a lot larger after the state Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Tim Pawlenty exceeded his authority when he made cuts alone last year.

Dr. Maureen Reed, candidate for U.S. Congress in the Sixth District, made it official today at the Secretary of State's office after a press conference.

Maureen Reed sent out a letter today to supporters questioning whether Tarryl Clark can be elected in the Sixth Congressional District. Reed is piggybacking on Republican attacks in recent days over Clark's deciding vote in favor of a Senate proposal to boost the state's top income tax bracket.

Maureen Reed raised just over $200,000 in the first three months of 2010 for her campaign to defeat U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. Reed finished the quarter with $433,000 cash on hand. The medical doctor also announced that she intends to loan her campaign an additional $250,000 to assist the effort.

Maureen Reed and Tarryl Clark both unveiled maps in the last 24 hours of U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's travels across the country. The gist of the message from the DFL congressional challengers: Bachmann is more interested in raising her national profile than working on behalf of constituents in the 6th Congressional District.

More than $2 million was raised by candidates in the 6th Congressional District in 2009. That makes it easily the most expensive U.S. House contest in Minnesota so far this election cycle.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who is seeking a a third term this fall, ended the 2009 Federal Election Commission reporting cycle with more than $1 million in cash on hand, her campaign reported today.