The Republican Party of Minnesota faces numerous lingering questions about the state of its finances heading into the 2012 election season. Last month GOP officials announced that an internal financial review determined that the party has $2 million in debts. That’s roughly four times more than most party activists had been led to believe just a month earlier.

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.

Minnesota Republican activists have elected longtime operative Pat Shortridge to lead the GOP Party out of more than $2 million in debt and into the 2012 election season.

Sen. Warren Limmer is not running for chair of the state Republican Party. On Tuesday the Judiciary Committee chair told reporters that he was weighing a bid for the party's top post, but has now decided to focus on his duties in the Senate.

Longtime GOP operative Pat Shortridge, Second Congressional District Republican chairman Terry McCall and activist Todd McIntyre have all announced campaigns. Candidates will participate in a forum on Thursday at the Wentworth Library in West St. Paul.

When Republican state senators gather on Tuesday to elect a new majority leader, their top-of-mind priority will be to choose someone who can bail out a sinking boat and set it sailing in the right direction again. But the stakes will also be very high for a set of Capitol interest groups facing an historic chance to make years’ and countless dollars’ worth of lobbying efforts pay off.

The field for state Republican Party chair remains in flux. On Tuesday veteran GOP strategist Pat Shortridge announced that he is seeking the post.

Brandon Sawalich's abrupt exit from the GOP chair contest -- following his brief arrest for expired license tabs and questions about a sexual harassment lawsuit settlement -- has left the field wide open.