Downballot: Salazar's Senate seat

COLORADO : Names being floated as potential replacements for Ken Salazar’s Senate seat: Salazar's brother, John, who is in Congress representing the state's 3rd District. Word is though, he is happy to be on the House Appropriations Committee and would rather stay there. Other leading names: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and former Denver Mayor Federico Pena. Other possibilities include Rep. Diana DeGette (though some worry if she can win statewide) and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who may be tapped by Dem Gov. Bill Ritter to be the state's new secretary of state.  By the way, if conservatives bring a lawsuit about Hillary Clinton's constitutional fitness to serve as on the executive branch payroll after serving in Congress, the decision could affect Sen. Ken Salazar's appointment to a post at the Interior Department, too. MINNESOTA : The Star Tribune : “With thousands of frivolous challenges discarded, the state Canvassing Board is expected to begin today the serious business of ... (link)