ST. PAUL, Minn. -- They came by the dozens, often times crowding the Secretary of State's front counter. More than 40 Republican hopefuls seeking a seat in the House of Representatives filed papers to run for election on the final day of May.
"Look at them," House Speaker Kurt Zellers said at a press conference across the hall. Zellers addressed the capitol press corps flanked by the candidates, some of whom were members of the House during the last legislative session.
The candidates are looking to join a legislative body that was often times divided by a thick political party line. "I think if this was such a horrible place, I don't think you would see this room full of great candidates here willing to sign on the line today," Zellers told reporters.
"You're darn right I stepped forward, signed my name, stamped it on," Tim Miller, a Republican candidate from Prinsburg, said proudly. Miller says he was driven to run for office after watching the stadium discussion; he also wants to work on "right to work" legislation. "I can't stand still and let stuff like that happen. I have to step forward and try to affect positive change," he explained.
Up the stairs, Alice Hausman met with members of her staff in her second floor office. We asked the long-time DFL house member why she keeps running for reelection, especially with partisan politics seemingly running at an all time high. "There's enormous frustration but when everything goes right you can do an enormous amount of good," she replied. Hausman was first elected in 1990.
The DFLer still has unfinished business to attend to as a champion for infrastructure and transportation projects. "So you can't give up, against great odds you keep working. I don't know if you call that challenge or stubbornness."
The House will lose at least 27 members between 2012 and 2013; the deadline for candidates to file is June 5th.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)