With almost exactly one year to go until the 2014 primary elections, the 2014 contests have already begun to take shape. The top races will be the Franken U.S. Senate seat, Governor Mark Dayton’s quest for reelection, the Sixth Congressional District seat being vacated by Michele Bachmann and the race for control for the Minnesota House of Representatives. In quick summary fashion, this is how the 2014 races line up.

US Senate

Senator Al Franken (D) won by 312 votes in 2008 over Norm Coleman but Franken currently has good approval numbers. The candidates are:

• Al Franken (D) - incumbent
• Mike McFadden (R) - political newcomer, 48 year old father of 6 from Sunfish Lake, co-CEO of Lazard Middle Market a financial services firm. Proven to be a force in the fundraising circuit by raising $765,000 in the month of June
• Jim Abeler (R) - eight term state Representative from Anoka. Former Health and Human Services Committee Chair. Moderate GOP member and bit of a maverick. One of six GOP members who voted to override Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of transportation tax increases in 2008
• Julianne Ortman (R) - four term State Senator from Chanhassen and former Senate Tax Committee Chair, announced her candidacy on August 3

Potential candidates:

• John Kriesel (R) - former State Representative
• Jason Lewis (R) - radio talk show host
• Pete Hegseth (R) - former candidate

US Congressional Races

District 1

• Tim Walz (D) - incumbent
• Mike Benson (R) - two term State Representative from Rochester
• Aaron Miller (R) - political newcomer from Byron

District 2

• John Kline (R) - incumbent
• Mike Obermueller (D) - attorney and second time candidate
• Tom Craft (D) - former Obermueller volunteer

District 3

• Erik Paulsen (R) - incumbent

Potential Candidate: Don Shelby - former WCCO television news anchor

District 4

• Betty McCollum (D) - incumbent

District 5

• Keith Ellison (D) - incumbent

District 6

Open Seat (Michele Bachmann is not running for re-election)

• Rhonda Sivarajah (R) - Anoka County Commissioner from Lino Lakes.
• Tom Emmer (R) - former State Representative and candidate for Governor from Delano
• Phil Krinkie (R) - former 16 year State Representative from Shoreview
• John Pederson (R) - second term State Senator from St. Cloud
• Judy Adams (D) - environmental activist from Circle Pines

Potential Candidate: Joe Perske (D) - Sartell Mayor

District 7

• Collin Peterson (D) - incumbent

Potential Candidate: Torrey Westrom (R) - State Senator from Elbow Lake

District 8

• Rick Nolan (D) - incumbent
• Stewart Mills (R) - Mills Fleet Farm Vice President from Brainerd.

Minnesota Governor

The list of candidates looking to run against incumbent DFL Governor Mark Dayton is growing. There are four official challengers with other possible announcements soon.

• Mark Dayton (D) - incumbent has announced his intention to seek reelection
• Scott Honour (R) - political newcomer, successful businessman form Wayzata
• David Thompson (R) - two term State Senator from Lakeville
• Jeff Johnson (R) - former State Representative from Plymouth, current Hennepin County Commissioner
• Kurt Zellers (R) - former Minnesota Speaker of the House, currently serving his sixth term in the House

Potential candidates:

• Julie Rosen (R) - State Senator from Fairmont
• Marty Seifert (R) - former State Representative and House Minority Leader
• Bill Ingebrigtsen (R) - State Senator from Alexandria

Minnesota House of Representatives

All 134 seats in the Minnesota House are up for election in 2014. The DFL currently holds a 73 to 61 majority.

Minnesota Senate

None of the members of the Minnesota Senate are up for election in 2014. The DFL currently holds a 39 to 28 majority.

Other Statewide Races

In addition, the offices of Lieutenant Governor (Yvonne Prettner Solon), Attorney General (Lori Swanson), Secretary of State (Mark Ritchie), and State Auditor (Rebecca Otto) will be on the ballot in 2014.

Secretary of State Ritchie has announced that he will not run for reelection. Current candidates for that position include former State Representative Jeremy Kalin (D) and current State Representative Deb Hilstrom (D).  Former Hennepin County elections manager Rachel Larson Bohman announced her candidacy but has since dropped out of the race. Potential Republican candidates for the office include Representative Joyce Peppin and former staffer Kent Kaiser.