The Senate District 49 contest will almost certainly be the most expensive legislative race in the state. In pre-primary campaign finance filings, DFL challenger Melisa Franzen and GOP state Rep. Keith Downey reported raising roughly $115,000 – easily the highest statewide total.

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.

Julie Bunn was one of five DFL candidates who, along with the state DFL Party and the DFL Senate Caucus, were accused of colluding on independent expenditures made by the party. Bunn said she received the board's decision in a letter dated Oct. 16.

The Republican Party of Minnesota alleges that the DFL party and its candidates are guilty of colluding on independent expenditures.

A national organization that focuses on electing Democrats to state legislatures has put four Minnesota candidates on its list of 60 races to watch.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton managed to draw a large crowd to a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis just ahead of the annual Twin Cities Pride Festival. The purpose was to raise money for Minnesotans United for All Families, the main campaign in opposition to a proposed ballot initiative.

Political operatives who have been crunching the numbers and talking to candidates see no shortage of swing districts in this year’s legislative elections. The new redistricting maps have tweaked the partisan complexion of many districts.

A lot changed in Minnesota’s legislative districts thanks to this year’s new redistricting map. Some incumbents were paired in newly drawn legislative territories; others found themselves installed in districts that bore little resemblance to their old electoral stomping grounds.

It was one of those votes no one wanted to take. The state’s new maps dropped DFL senators and allies John Marty and Mary Jo McGuire into Senate District 66, forcing activists in the area to pick between them at a recent endorsing convention.

Downey, who is currently serving his third term representing House district 41A, announced Thursday his plans to run in the newly-drawn Senate District 49, which includes Edina, west Bloomington, and parts of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka.