With Gov. Mark Dayton up for election in 2014, just two short years from now, talk will heat up soon on possible challengers.
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson told MPR this week that he's pondering a run.
"I'm thinking about that," Johnson told reporter Tom Scheck. "That comes down to a family decision in the next months as to whether we can make it work or not but I do have an interest in that."
St-ate Rep. Keith Downey has been mentioned as a possible Republican gubernatorial contender, but he lost his state Senate bid in Edina Tuesday. Kurt Zellers, who was re-elected to the state House but lost his speaker role, is on the radar.
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said no to running; former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman hasn't said no.
State Sen. Dave Thompson's name comes up, as does Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
And today blogger Blois Olson writes:
Yesterday fmr. MMB Commissioner Tom Hanson floated the names of Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Sarah Anderson as possible candidates for Governor.