More than three decades have passed since Rick Nolan last ran for Congress. But on Wednesday afternoon, standing before the statue of former populist Farmer-Labor Gov. Floyd B. Olson on the Capitol lawn, Nolan made his candidacy in the 8th Congressional District official.

Nearly four decades later, Bye is once again chairman of the 8th Congressional District at a time of political tumult. The defeat of 18-term U.S. House fixture Oberstar by Republican Chip Cravaack last year has set off a very familiar scramble for the 2012 DFL nomination.

Dayton's cabinet picks have leaned toward individuals with few close ties to the Capitol. But in assembling his legislative affairs staff, the DFL governor is relying on a roster of legislative veterans with established relationships under the dome.

As the new Republican legislative majorities scramble to articulate their early-session priorities, one action item is almost ready for prime time: plans to address longstanding business about Minnesota's purportedly onerous permitting process.

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.

Mark Dayton becomes the first DFL governor in two decades, while Republicans take over the Legislature

With a controversial history and a looming sunset date, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's marquee rural economic development program, JOBZ, appeared to be headed for its grave before the November 2 general election.

New faces fill seats previously held by Kelliher, Prettner Solon, Moua

In the 2002 election that followed Minnesota's last round of redistricting, the three seats that comprise Minnesota legislative District 4 - which includes the city of Bemidji, Cass County and parts of Itasca, Beltrami, Hubbard and Crow Wing counties - were swept by Republicans. Some believed the results were a harbinger of reliable GOP dominance in the area.

There is erosion on the horizon for the region's standing in the legislative balance of power; population declines have many predicting a loss of seats in the 2012 round of redistricting. Which makes it all the more ironic that the stars could be aligning for a 2011 Iron Range leadership sweep in the legislative and executive branches that some lawmakers find unpalatable.