DFLers hit swing districts to push accomplishments.

It's unclear how Dayton's Republican challengers -- the governor faced a tough recount in 2010 -- stand compared to Dayton.

In 2014 as in 2010, it appears that conservative reaction to President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act is helping to drive GOP challengers into politics and to shape the main themes of their campaigns.

JoAnn Ward decided to run when Rep. Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood, decided to retire. Redistricting pushed the new House District 53A farther to the east and across I-494 into Washington County. Even though partisan voter indices still pegged the new district as DFL-leaning, the race caught the attention of Republicans.

Before closing his victory speech after winning back the DFL majority in the Minnesota Senate, a teary-eyed DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk grabbed the arm of one of his first-time candidates and lifted it high. “I want to introduce you to Senator-elect Melisa Franzen,” Bakk shouted to an exuberant crowd of DFLers gathered in downtown St. Paul at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. “They didn’t lose because they are Republicans; they lost because they are wrong.”

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.

A lot changed in Minnesota’s legislative districts thanks to this year’s new redistricting map. Some incumbents were paired in newly drawn legislative territories; others found themselves installed in districts that bore little resemblance to their old electoral stomping grounds.

Former DFL Sen. Jim Carlson bested Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire after four ballots at the Senate District 51 convention on Saturday. Former DFL Rep. Sandra Masin also took home the DFL endorsement for House District 51A after a one-ballot challenge from Gary Meyer.

Corporate executive Gary Meyer has filed to in the Eagan House district currently held by GOP Rep. Diane Anderson.

On a recent Wednesday evening, DFL activists gathered at Mancini’s Char House & Lounge in St. Paul to raise money for Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire.