ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Democrats are outraising their Republican opponents in competitive races for the U.S. House and Senate.

Minnesota has a wealth of costly and close elections for federal office this year as outside political groups target four of the state's eight congressional districts and a surprise Senate election.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota attorney involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit now at issue in the 3rd Congressional District race says Democratic challenger Dean Phillips had nothing to do with the case.

Phillips was a board member at Allina Health in 2007 when seven nurses sued a local clinic, alleging they were sexually harassed by a doctor. Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen accused Phillips of doing nothing in a campaign ad this week.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A new ad from Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen accuses Democratic challenger Dean Phillips of doing nothing about a sexual harassment case brought by seven female nurses against Allina Health clinic in 2007, when Phillips served on the Allina board.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — DFL convention delegates have endorsed congressional candidates Angie Craig and Dean Phillips in suburban Twin Cities districts. But no candidate secured the party's endorsement in northeastern Minnesota.

Craig won endorsement Saturday in her bid for a rematch with freshman Republican Jason Lewis, who narrowly defeated her in 2016. Phillips was endorsed to challenge incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation say they'll try to figure out a solution for Liberians in the state after the Trump administration extended immigration protections for only one year.

The White House says the Deferred Enforced Departure program that has been in place since 2007 will end next March. A memo signed by President Donald Trump says conditions in the country have improved so the program is no longer needed.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Aides to Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis say he's been discharged from a Virginia hospital after suffering a concussion when a train carrying House Republicans to a retreat struck a truck.

A tweet from Lewis' account late Wednesday said Lewis was heading for the retreat and planned to participate as much as he could as he recovers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota U.S. Rep. Tim Walz says the shooting at a congressional baseball practice outside of Washington was senseless and his prayers go out to the victims.

Gunman James T. Hodgkinson wounded Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several other people before he was fatally shot by police Wednesday morning.

Scalise is on the Republican team. Walz is on the Democratic team but a spokesman says he wasn't at the practice Wednesday morning.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A local businessman is launching a campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen.

Dean Phillips announced his Democratic bid in the 3rd Congressional District Tuesday after several weeks of speculation.

Paulsen easily survived an anti-Donald Trump-fueled challenge in November. But national Democrats have signaled they'll target the fifth-term Republican in 2018, hoping for voter backlash against the president and his party.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen is calling for an independent investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election following President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Paulsen is the only Republican in Minnesota's delegation to do so. In a statement, he says the Comey firing amidst the investigation into Russian meddling is "extraordinary."

Paulsen says it calls for an independent investigation that American people can trust.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A businessman who's an heir to a major liquor company is planning a run for Congress.

Dean Phillips says he'll soon officially launch his DFL campaign for the seat held by Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen. The 48-year-old Phillips says he started to think about getting into politics after the last election.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree is helping lead a group of lawmakers in support of hops research.

Hops are flowers of the hop plant, and they're used to impart flavor and aroma to beer. More than 100 lawmakers are calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase its commitment to research of the plant.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen beats back anti-Trump attacks, defeats Bonoff to secure 5th term.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota Democrat facing a tough climb to unseat Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen is getting a hand from her party's standard bearer.

President Barack Obama was featured in a video released Wednesday promoting state Sen. Terri Bonoff's campaign for Congress. The 30-second spot mentions that Bonoff's son is one of the president's closest aides.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty called Donald Trump "unhinged" on Saturday and withdrew his support after a recording surfaced of the GOP presidential nominee making vulgar comments about women in 2005.