Bakk has said on multiple occasions that he would like to devote the surplus in part to enlarging the state’s budget reserve.

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

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 Republican fields for the 2014 governor and U.S. Senate races expanded last week. St. Louis County Board Chair Chris Dahlberg announced he’s running for U.S. Senate, and another Northlander, Rob Farnsworth, a special education teacher from Hibbing, joined the governor’s race.

The Republican fields for the 2014 governor and U.S. Senate races continued to expand this week. St. Louis County Board Chair Chris Dahlberg announced he’s running for Senate. And another Northlander, Rob Farnsworth, a special education teacher from Hibbing, got into the governor’s race.

Farnsworth, a special education teacher who lives in Hibbing, has worked on political campaigns and served as a local and state-level party delegate.