Almanac: At the Capitol

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert lined up his candidates in front of the Capitol and gender stood out. The GOP is running a record number of women. In a nod to his '70s pop culture upbringing Seifert said he didn't want a "Smurf village where we have one female running around." There's about 5 people of color running for House seats on the Republican side as well. Seifert said he put extra effort into trying to make the caucus look "demographically in the 21st century."

The House DFL sent out a press release saying "As Republican leaders travel the state listing the Legislature's accomplishments, one big item will be missing. Transportation funding. That's because Republican leadership did not support it, actively fought against it and even punished fellow GOPers who voted for safe roads and bridges." Several Republicans who voted for the transportation bill override did not get endorsed and thus weren't part of today's press event.

Seifert vowed to keep the campaign positive and promised to take back the majority in the House. He said "we lost it in one election cycle and we can win it back in one cycle." Seifert thinks 33 seats are in play and he'd have to pick up 19 seats to win speaker. Speaking of the speaker, Seifert said he'd like to "compliment Margaret Kelliher, she'll be a tremendous minority leader next session."

Majority Leader Tony Sertich thinks 20-30 seats will be competitive. On the issue of gender he said, "Republicans are catching up with us on getting a more diverse group of candidates." He added that Democrats have "walked the talk" by electing women to powerful posts like speaker and tax chair. Sertich admitted there's one woman that he's really focusing on right now, the one he is set to marry this weekend. Right now he's distracted with "tapered candles."