The "Marriage Majority Initiative," launched by the group on Thursday morning, will "work to restore a pro-marriage majority in the Minnesota House in 2014 by supporting legislators who withstood immense political pressure in order to cast a vote in defense of traditional marriage."

The successful effort to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota this session also turned out to be one of the most expensive lobbying efforts in 2013, with advocates and opponents spending nearly $2 million to try an influence legislators votes on the issue.

Hundreds gathered for the afternoon rally held in the rotunda to push back against the recent introduction of bills in both chambers to legalize same-sex marriage. The rally was held at the same time House and Senate members were holding floor sessions.

Minneapolis DFL lawmakers Karen Clark and Scott Dibble released the language of the bill at a Capitol news conference on Wednesday. They were joined by Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-Hopkins, who will also sponsor the bill, as well as clergy members and gay couples and their families. Republican Sen. Branden Petersen was not present, but released a statement making his support official.

Campaign spokesman Jake Loesch announced the change to reporters on Thursday. The group aims to convince legislators to repeal a state law that currently defines marriage as between one man and one woman during the 2013 legislative session.

Minnesotans United's 2012 fundraising totals more than $8.7 million, more than twice the amount raised by Minnesota for Marriage.

The principal groups fighting for and against a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage have released their latest television spots.

One notable exception: Cravaack/Nolan CD 8 race

Minnesota for Marriage, the main group supporting a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, has released two television advertisements that will run in the final weeks leading up to Election Day.

A trio of DFL third-party groups -- comprised of Alliance for a Better Minnesota, Win Minnesota and the 2012 Fund -- are still significantly out-raising a slew of independent expenditures groups on the right. And in the battle of the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment -- the most high profile fight this cycle and drawing the most donations -- groups opposing the amendment are still pulling in conservatively more than pro-amendment groups.