Earlier, McFadden had gained the endorsement of former U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Rod Grams.

Former U.S. representative and senator Rod Grams, who rose to politics after years as a television anchor, died on Tuesday at the age of 65. Grams, who suffered from cancer, had been in hospice care at his home in Crown, Minnesota for the last several weeks.

After rising to speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives in the wake of the 2010 election, Rep. Kurt Zellers was stung two years later by his caucus’s demotion to minority status. The Republican from Maple Grove struck an unassuming profile at the Capitol this past spring.

State Sen. Julianne Ortman is no stranger to tough electoral fights with other Republicans. She began her political career in 2000, when she was elected Carver County Commissioner, facing a five-way primary initially to get on the ballot. After the 2002 redistricting maps dropped, Ortman saw an opportunity for a newly open Senate seat, ultimately winning a GOP primary by a scant 2 points.

Rep. Sarah Anderson had been a staffer in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 10 years by 2006. That's when her predecessor in House District 43A, former Rep. Jeff Johnson, decided he'd leave the Legislature to make a run for the attorney general's office.

Ranging in age from 24 to 65, new class presents a varied face

Many Republican frosh have records of local civic service HD 15B: King Banaian King Banaian was surrounded by politics growing up in New Hampshire. The state is inundated with presidential hopefuls every four years, and Banaian was recruited at 15 to put flyers on doors for the George McGovern campaign.

Former Republican U.S. Sen. Rod Grams, who was ousted by DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton in 2000, will serve as interim chief of staff for 8th Congressional District Representative-elect Chip Cravaack.

Glenn Gruenhagen in 25A and Kurt Daudt in 17A emerged victorious at Tuesday night's GOP endorsing conventions. They are both running to succeed retiring GOP incumbents.