The wounds had started to heal by the time Minnesota Republicans faced each other at an annual activist gathering in Blaine over the weekend. Many Republicans had already come to terms with the drubbing that took place on Nov. 6, when both Republican legislative majorities and two GOP-led constitutional amendments were rejected by voters.

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin, teaming up with the House DFL caucus and Erik Simonson's campaign, said Friday that they are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to challenge the St. Louis County Auditor's move to deny a withdrawal affidavit from Kerry Gauthier and a certificate of nomination for Simonson.

The race for Republican National Committeewoman at the state Republican Party convention this weekend is not exactly the most-watched political contest of the year.

A financial report released by the Republican Party of Minnesota on Monday afternoon found that there was no theft or illegal activity by former party officers or former state Chairman Tony Sutton, but did point to a pattern of fiscal mismanagement and “questionable decision-making” that has left the party more than $1 million in debt.

Minnesota Republicans started the 2011 session having conquered titans. In the Legislature, GOP lawmakers had made a historic 54-seat gain in the House and Senate that fall, a swing that handed them majorities in both chambers for the first time in 38 years.

Campaign Finance Board Chairman Gary Goldsmith said, per state law, he could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

Minnesota's chapter of Common Cause and Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington have brought complaints over the GOP finances

On Saturday, Pat Shortridge was elected as the state party chairman in a statewide gathering of GOP activists in St. Cloud. Afterward the veteran GOP strategist suggested that the party had turned an important corner.

He's expected to make the announcement official this morning via news release, he said on Twitter late Thursday.

Seifert's endorsement came the same day Sawalich saw two other Republicans rumored to be mulling runs of their own line up behind his candidacy.