Republican

Political groups are preparing to dump political ads on Twin Cities TV screens beginning next week. More than $2 million worth of ad time has been reserved so far between now and the Nov. 6 election, and Democrats and Republicans are expected to buy even more, the Associated Press reports.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson won a four-way Republican primary for an open U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin. Thompson will face Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the general election this fall. Democratic incumbent Sen. Herb Kohl is not running for his fifth-term.

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills is in apparent need of dollar bills. The Federal Election Commission reports that the Republican challenger to Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar has just $5,841 in the bank -- approximately 900 times less than Klobuchar's campaign, which has nearly $5.4 million.

Most Minnesota Republicans who are headed to this year's national Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., are first-time delegates. Many are Ron Paul supporters, and true to form, they have an independent streak. They're seeking out cheap hotels away from the celebrity politicians and making arrangements for an unconventional convention experience.

Bob Cummins, who has donated more than $3.5 million to Minnesota Republican causes, is telling allies he has had it with Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature and will not give their campaigns any cash this year, according to multiple sources, the Star Tribune reports. Cummins, CEO of Plymouth-based Primera Technology, is reportedly frustrated over legislators' failure to approve a "right-to-work" constitutional amendment that would limit union power.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said he's not interested in being Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's running mate, yet at the same time he said he "would be honored to serve if asked." After delivering an address at the North Carolina Republican Convention, Pawlenty tried to explain his feelings on the matter.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers says modernizing state government will be the GOP's overarching theme during the Legislative session that starts Tuesday. Some of the proposals have been pitched before and could be hard to get past Governor Dayton.

The Republican presidential candidate will likely consider the condition of the state party in deciding how much time and money to spend in Minnesota. Along those lines, recent resignations amid scandal and debt have hurt the state's standing.

Amy Koch issued a surprise announcement that she's stepping down as Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate. Koch's letter to fellow Republicans did not specify a reason, but called the past year challenging, exciting, and exhausting.

Eden Prairie business executive Brandon Sawalich has picked up some endorsements in his bid to become the new state party chair. The only other announced candidate is a relative unknown, but a few other possibilities are still considering joining the race.

The Minnesota Congresswoman questioned the impartiality of the Donald and she's not alone. Five of the seven Republican presidential candidates invited declined. Only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreed.

Tony Sutton's sudden resignation as party chair last week leaves Minnesota Republicans looking for new leadership. Here's a list of some names that are possibilities and others who have ruled themselves out.

The central committee of Minnesota's Republican party elected Kelly Fenton of Woodbury to be deputy chair. But she'll also be the interim party chair after Tony Sutton abruptly resigned from that post Friday night.