A deadlocked convention pushes DFL contest between Mohamud Noor and Rep. Phyllis Kahn to the August election.

It was one of those votes no one wanted to take. The state’s new maps dropped DFL senators and allies John Marty and Mary Jo McGuire into Senate District 66, forcing activists in the area to pick between them at a recent endorsing convention.

Senate District 59, which encompasses the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota and northeast Minneapolis, is home to one of the most concentrated DFL constituencies in Minnesota.

Stonewall DFL, the party's gay and lesbian caucus, has endorsed Avi Viswanathan in the Senate District 67 contest. Viswanathan is among 11 candidates seeking to replace retiring Sen. Mee Moua, who has represented the St. Paul district since 2002.

The DFL Veterans Caucus has endorsed R.T. Rybak for governor. The veterans' group cited Rybak's leadership skills in announcing the decision.

Stonewall DFL is backing Matt Entenza for governor. The party's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender caucus cited his strong support for gay marriage in making the endorsement.