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Rick Olseen

Nov 14, 2012

How the lege was won

Minnesota’s 2012 Democratic legislative campaigns started about two years ago. The exact date depends on who you ask.

Oct 11, 2012

National Democratic group puts four MN lege races on watch list

A national organization that focuses on electing Democrats to state legislatures has put four Minnesota candidates on its list of 60 races to watch.

Aug 3, 2012

Money magnets: Some candidates have significant financial advantage over rivals

The Senate District 49 race has resulted in the largest haul so far with more than $100,000 in political contributions. Campaign finance reports have revealed this and a lot more, including some notable financial mismatches as well as challengers bringing in more than incumbents.

Apr 11, 2012

Former Sen. Olseen to run for House

Olseen was first elected to the state Senate in 2006, but was dealt significan defeat in 2010 when he lost to GOP Sen. Sean Nienow by nearly 13 points.

Mar 7, 2012

As endorsing season looms, MN legislators scrambling to finalize election plans

House and Senate races across the state are rapidly shaking out after the release of the 2012 legislative map last month. And with local endorsing conventions set to take place throughout March, incumbents and challengers alike have little time to make decisions about their political futures.

Feb 29, 2012

Former lawmakers look to return to the Capitol this fall

A slew of former DFL and GOP legislators announced campaigns for House and Senate districts this week, including Carrie Ruud, a former Republican senator from Breezy Point, former DFL Rep. David Bly of Northfield, former DFL Sen. Kevin Dahle and former DFL Rep. Paul Rosenthal.

Apr 27, 2011

Gambling bills may be headed for photo finish

In previous legislative sessions, proposals to expand gambling have attracted more support from Republicans than DFLers. Given Minnesota's $5 billion state budget deficit and the new Republican majorities in the House and Senate, gambling proposals would seem to stand a much-improved chance of landing on the governor's desk as part of a budget agreement.

Nov 17, 2010

GOP leaders talk about how they flipped a veto-proof majority in Senate

Late last week, three of the principal architects of the Republicans' Minnesota Senate takeover gathered in Sen. Amy Koch's office for one last time to talk about how they'd pulled it off.

Nov 12, 2010

Senate committee buzz: GOP signals right turn

The restructuring of the caucus and its chairs by a new leadership team is widely expected to produce a decidedly conservative shift on the part of Senate Republicans, who in recent years have built a more centrist track record than their increasingly conservative House colleagues.

Oct 8, 2010

Legislative candidates begin final push

Political action committees and legislative caucuses have already done mailings assailing the opposition. But now that the campaign has entered the final month, the rough-and-tumble race for the Legislature is kicking into high gear.

Aug 13, 2010

Analysts tussle over election outlook at PIM-sponsored election preview

Hours after Tuesday's DFL primary, the Minnesota GOP launched a TV ad attack calling DFLer Mark Dayton "erratic" and wondering out loud what frequency he was on.

Jul 9, 2010

13 could be lucky number for Senate GOP

Around convention time in the spring, Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, boasted that his caucus would retake the chamber’s majority in November. Considering Senate Republicans’ 38-year stranglehold on minority status, and the 13 seats that his troops will need to gain to make good on the pledge, it amounts to a tall order.

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