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5th District: Jorge Saavedra


SNAPSHOT
Though the U.S. Senate race seemed to hold the most promise for a close race, it was the governor's race in Minnesota that grabbed the election-night headlines. Incumbent Tim Pawlenty held onto his office by just 22,000 votes over DFLer Mike Hatch. But Pawlenty saw his GOP colleagues swept out of office. In the Senate race, DFLer Amy Klobuchar easily beat Rep. Mark Kennedy.

The retirement of Sen. Mark Dayton sparked early interest in the campaign, with Rep. Mark Kennedy jumping in early. But a year later, Kennedy emerged as the lone Republican for the job, and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar's strength was forcing several Democrats, including Patty Wetterling, out of the race.

The Senate race immediately attracted national attention, but as Klobuchar surged ahead of Kennedy in the polls, much national attention turned to the 6th District, where Patty Wetterling and state Sen. Michele Bachmann were the major contenders. Bachmann beat Wettlerling. It was Wetterling's second straight loss in the district. In the 5th, Rep. Keith Ellison became the first Muslim congressman. And in the 1st, incumbent Gil Gutknecht was defeated by DFLer Tim Walz.
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Chief Justice Russell Anderson stressed that no members of the high court ever spoke with Johnson about whether the state's law banning gay marriage could withstand a legal challenge. (03/20/2006)
U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo, DFL-Minn., announced Saturday that he won't seek a 15th term in Congress. (Midday, 03/20/2006)
"In my gut I know the time is right," the Minneapolis DFLer said on Saturday as he announced the end of his political career. (03/18/2006)
University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs says Martin Sabo's decision to retire is "momentous," and the time of the announcement is "strange." (03/17/2006)
Martin Sabo is holding a press conference Saturday to announce he's not seeking re-election. The 5th District Democrat has been a member of Congress representing Minneapolis for 28 years. (03/17/2006)
In MPR's ongoing Meet the Candidates series, Gov. Tim Pawlenty makes his case for a second term in office. (Midday, 03/13/2006)
Nearly 100 veterans are running for congressional seats in the 2006 election. Midmorning looks at why these soldier-candidates have hit the campaign trail in numbers not seen in more than 50 years. (Midmorning, 03/13/2006)
Jacob Wetterling Foundation officials say they've been considering the name change for several years, but one board member says Patty Wetterling's political campaign is also playing a role in the possible change. (03/10/2006)
In what sounded like a test of possible themes for a re-election campaign, Pawlenty said he's completed the biggest financial turnaround in state history. (03/09/2006)
If spin were a sport, they'd be handing out gold medals at the state Capitol. DFL candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate are all claiming a victory of some kind from the outcome of a straw poll taken Tuesday night at precinct caucuses around the state. (03/08/2006)
Analysis of Tuesday's precinct caucuses from the Republican, DFL and Independence Party perspectives. (Midday, 03/08/2006)
Attorney General Mike Hatch appeared to be the favorite candidate for governor among those attending DFL precinct caucuses Tuesday night. In the DFL's U.S. Senate contest, a straw poll showed Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar had nearly 77 percent to veterinarian Ford Bell's 16 percent. (03/07/2006)
The DFL candidates for governor will all be watching Tuesday's precinct caucuses to see what kind of support they enjoy from party stalwarts. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson face no challenge within their parties. (Midday, 03/07/2006)
How did Minnesota's political parties come to endorse candidates the way they do? (Midday, 03/07/2006)
Taxes, health care and national security were among the key issues addressed by three candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. (03/03/2006)