Embattled DFL Rep. Kerry Gauthier shocked nearly everyone in the Minnesota political firmament on Wednesday morning when he announced that he plans to seek reelection to his seat in the state House of Representatives. The announcement came one week after it was publicly reported that Gauthier had been investigated by Duluth police following an incident in which he used a Craigslist ad to meet and have oral sex with a 17-year-old male at an area rest stop.

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure board has found that the Republican Party of Minnesota is responsible for nearly $600,000 in debts accrued during the 2010 gubernatorial recount and has fined the party $27,000 and former party Chairman Tony Sutton $3,000 for failure to properly report to the board.

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 found that there was no theft or illegal activity by former party officers but did point to a pattern of fiscal mismanagement that has left the party about $2 million in debt.

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.

In a statement released Monday evening, GOP Party Chairman Pat Shortridge says they have reached an agreement with Massachusetts-based HUB Properties, which filed eviction paperwork last week after the party failed to pay nearly $100,000 since last year.

Massachusetts-based Hub Properties Trust filed paperwork in Ramsey County on Wednesday to evict the debt-ridden Republican Party for failing to pay more than $96,000 in rent over the last year.

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.

In one of his first moves as chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Pat Shortridge has appointed a slew of activists to lead efforts like photo ID, finances and fundraising ahead of the 2012 election.

Leaders and activists in the Republican Party of Minnesota haven’t had much time to think about elections lately. In a whirlwind series of events, the party lost its chairman, deputy chairman and secretary/treasurer in the span of three months amid mounting questions about the party’s finances.