Almanac: At the Capitol

Elwyn Tinklenberg will announce he's running to try to replace Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Tink will make it official Monday morning and it appears former Ventura spokesperson John Wodele will be helping him out. The former transportation commissioner will join DFLer Bob Olson in this race. It's a very red district and tough for a Dem, but Tink has some more conservative views that should help him.

And Eric Black has news that "James B. Hovland, the Republican mayor of Edina, will be switching to the DFL and is seriously contemplating entering the race for the Dem nomination for the open Third District congressional seat." Also in the 6th "State Representative Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) announced today that he will actively explore a run for Congress in Minnesota's Third District and will form a federal campaign committee next week. 'I have received an outpouring of encouragement to run for the Third District seat,' said the former Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives. 'I want to take the necessary steps to consider this race seriously. Forming a campaign committee is the next step.'"