Emmer raised less during the last three months than he did during his opening month of June, but is well ahead of Sen. John Pederson, R-St. Cloud.

**UPDATED** Former state Rep. Tom Emmer, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the 6th Congressional District, has filmed an advertisement for Integrity Exteriors and Remodelers. In the ad, Emmer touts his congressional candidacy and endorses the construction firm.

Though focused on his federal campaign, Abeler said he was "not disinterested" in coming back to the Capitol, where he serves as Republican lead on the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee.

This will be a second attempt at winning over the strongly conservative district for Krinkie, who ran for the GOP endorsement in 2006.

Tom Emmer tapped into a network of conservative donors that aligned behind his 2010 gubernatorial campaign to give himself a commanding lead.

The Delano-based Republican's total came thanks to more than 300 individual donors, according to the statement .

The court’s ruling means gay couples in Minnesota -- which will be able to be legally married starting Aug. 1 thanks to a law passed in the Legislature this year -- will now also have the federal benefits of a married couple.

Sartell Mayor Joe Perske hasn't decided if he will seek the DFL nomination in the 6th Congressional District. But he certainly sounds like a candidate for the post.

Michael Snow, a Minneapolis attorney and investor, gave $1.16 million to federal political candidates and causes last year.

When Republican members of the Legislature return to St. Paul next year and compare notes on what they did during the interim, a growing number will say they launched campaigns for Congress.