St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg's momentum from early Saturday morning is flagging in his fight with Minneapolis financier Mike McFadden for the Republican US Senate endorsement.

House negotiators rejected the Senate’s $9.50 offer last night, in part because its application would have been restricted to big businesses.

Seifert, who joined the gubernatorial contest in late November, nabbed 28 percent of the precinct vote to lead all comers.

Among Republican gubernatorial candidates, Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, had the greatest name recognition.

Johnson, a Hennepin County Commissioner, and Ortman, a state senator from Chanhassen, placed first in candidate straw polls cast by Republican Party of Minnesota activists gathered at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday. Johnson beat five other Republican candidates for governor with 35 percent of the vote, with state Sen. Dave Thompson coming in second with 27 percent of the vote.

The St. Louis County commissioner, Republican and now-retired member of the U.S. Army reserves kicked of his campaign for the U.S. Senate last week.

St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg has joined the field of GOP contenders seeking to oust U.S. Sen. Al Franken in 2014. There are now six candidates looking to secure the Republican nomination.