Millions of dollars in political donations are already flowing into competitive congressional races in the Twin Cities.

Why it matters: Campaigns are expensive. That makes fundraising figures a proxy for the strength of a candidate and the competitiveness of a race.

The big picture: Candidates in three contested races in the Twin Cities metro area raised a collective $4.8 million in the final three months of 2023, reports filed this week with the Federal Elections Commission show.

State of play: Just one of the state's eight congressional seats — the suburban 2nd Congressional District, now represented by DFL Rep. Angie Craig — is expected to be seriously in play this November.

• But a contested primary for U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and a DFL battle over U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips' soon-to-be-open seat in the western suburbs are also attracting loads of cash.

By the numbers: Craig raised nearly $800,000 during Q4 and ended the year with the biggest war chest of the metro-area candidates: $2.6 million.

• The two Republicans vying to take her on each took in six-figure sums. Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab ended the year with about $269,000 in the bank, while Tayler Rahm reported $75,000.

Meanwhile, Omar, who posted a record fundraising haul last quarter, has a cash advantage of more than $1 million over challengers in the Minneapolis-based 5th District.

• Repeat DFL rival Don Samuels raised $347,000 and ended the year with a similar amount in the bank. GOP candidate Dalia al-Aqidi reported about $60,000 cash on hand.

And in the Democratic primary for the open 3rd District, state Sen. Kelly Morrison outraised opponent Ron Harris by a 4-to-1 margin.

Reality check: In some contested primary races, the money won't matter if you can't land your party's endorsement.

• In the 2nd District, for example, both Republican candidates have pledged to drop out if they can't secure the support of the grassroots GOP delegates later this spring.

What we're watching

As early as this fall, Minneapolis city officials plan to bring bike lockers — or something like them — to more than a dozen locations across the city as part of a pilot program.

Why it matters: Giving people a secure place to lock up their wheels is one key to convincing them to take more trips by bike

Zoom in: This is especially true for users of e-bikes, city officials said.

Details: City mobility planner Russ Brooks said yesterday that he's aiming to set up 15 or 20 parking locations throughout a three-year pilot phase.

• Private companies would provide and maintain the sites. Costs would be covered by advertising or "nominal" fees to users, Brooks added.

How it could work

🚗 Minnesotans bought more than 13,000 "blackout" license plates in the first month following the design's debut, DVS tells Axios. (Background via Axios)

👀 Ryan Cos. has a purchase agreement to buy about 2/3 of the Thomson Reuters campus in Eagan, per a news release. (Nick via X)

• No details on the plan have been released.

✈️ Delta and American Express are raising fees for the popular Skymiles credit cards. The increase follows a decision to roll back credit card rewards and perk changes that irked some customers. (Thrifty Traveler)

Minneapolis closed another iteration of "Camp Nenookaasi" yesterday, just 48 hours after people living in the encampment had relocated to the new site. (Star Tribune)

🏀 Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns will play in the NBA All-Star Game after coaches selected the two Wolves as reserves. (NBA.com)

Meteorological winter is 2/3 complete, and it's on pace to be the warmest and least snowy in Twin Cities history.

By the numbers:

• 28.2 degrees: Average temperature so far this winter (December and January), the warmest ever, National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Ahasic told Axios.
• 18.7 degrees: The normal average temperature for December and January in the Twin Cities.
• 7.3 inches: Amount of snow that has fallen this fall and winter, per the NWS.
• 17.4 inches: The least amount of snow the Twin Cities has seen in a season, which happened in 1986-87.

📅Upcoming events around the city.

Valentine's Day Special at Flying Dutchman Spirits on Feb. 14:

Come celebrate love at the Flying Dutchman Spirits! Join us before you head out to dinner or as your main event! Pick two of your favorite cocktails to sip on while you enjoy our charcuterie. $30.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

This elegant condo with historic charm in the heart of downtown St. Paul is now on the market for $499,900, Axios' Audrey Kennedy writes.

Why we love it: The spacious corner unit has preserved its original 1888 architecture throughout, including the ogee-shaped windows with shutters and one-of-a-kind 14-foot barrel vault ceilings.

• The one-bedroom, two-bathroom condo, which comes with two heated parking spots, is just steps away from CHS Field.

Take a look around

"This feels like a séance."

State of play: Phillips just wrapped a "rough and lonely five days" in the Palmetto State ahead of its Feb. 3 primary, The Post & Courier reports.

• One recent poll has him trailing President Biden by more than 60 percentage points.

Zoom in: The "séance"-like setup at the event described above emerged after staff worried that attendance wouldn't exceed double digits.

• In addition to the 10 voters, it attracted one child and a dog.

What's next: Phillips, who acknowledges he doesn't expect to win the state, has said he intends to stay in the race through the nominating convention.