DFL challenger Matt Entenza picked up a small win with an endorsement from US Rep. Keith Ellison.

GOP Sens. Carla Nelson and Roger Chamberlain have introduced an alternate bill.

Republican legislators and conservative groups filed a lawsuit this week aimed at suspending an online voter registration program that they claim was improperly implemented by Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a DFLer, without legislative approval.

In a letter sent to Legislative Auditor Jim Noble’s office on Monday, GOP leaders said Ritchie “unilaterally” started the program without vetting the proposal in committee hearings. The program allows new voters to register online or returning voters to update their information.

In mid-May, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s campaign bought roughly $80,000 worth of television advertising in the Twin Cities market. But just two weeks later, Bachmann stunned seemingly everyone by announcing on Wednesday that she would not be running for re-election.

**UPDATED** U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's surprise decision to not seek re-election has produced a frenzy of speculation about who might seek the GOP nomination in Minnesota's most conservative congressional district. At least a dozens names have been floated as possible successors to the four-term incumbent.

The bill passed through the chamber after less than an hour debate on a 74-60 vote. Republican Reps. Tim Sanders and Tim O’Driscoll crossed over to support the proposal, while DFL Rep. Ron Erhardt voted against the bill.

House Republicans, now in the minority with 61 members, picked Blaine Rep. Tim Sanders as minority whip. The job requires Sanders, who is heading into his third term, to count caucus votes and communicate with leadership both before and during major floor votes.

For better or worse, Michael Brodkorb was back on the campaign trail last week. This time, however, the former GOP attack dog, deputy Republican Party chair and Senate communications guru who helped mastermind the 2010 GOP takeover of the chamber has materialized in a glossy pink and blue mailer that’s being used to attack Republicans.

Pam Wolf is not easily deterred. She first ran for the Legislature in 2004, losing a House race to incumbent DFL Rep. Connie Bernardy by 13 percentage points. Two years later, Wolf took on DFL Sen. Don Betzold, losing that time by 9 percentage points.