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Governor: Sue Jeffers


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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Minnesota Democrats will endorse a candidate for governor at the party's state convention in Rochester on Saturday. Vying for the endorsement are Attorney General Mike Hatch, state Sen. Steve Kelley and state Sen. Becky Lourey. (06/09/2006)
Fresh from his party's convention, where he was officially endorsed on Friday, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty takes questions about his re-election bid from Minnesota Public Radio listeners. (Midday, 06/05/2006)
Delegates to the state Republican convention have overwhelmingly endorsed Gov. Tim Pawlenty in his bid for a second term. Pawlenty told delegates that he's been fighting a deeply liberal tradition for the past four years, and said the state needs leaders, not whiners. (06/02/2006)
Delegates to the state Republican convention are expected to handily endorse Gov. Tim Pawlenty for a second term Friday afternoon Pawlenty has led the state during a contentious and highly-polarized era at the Capitol, which included the state's first partial government shutdown. (06/02/2006)
It was a busy day for gubernatorial politics Wednesday. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty formally announced his re-election campaign. Democrats launched a campaign against Pawlenty and other Republicans. And DFL gubernatorial candidate Becky Lourey announced her running mate. (05/31/2006)
Minneapolis business owner Sue Jeffers announces her candidacy for governor Thursday, taking on Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the Republican endorsement. Jeffers is an outspoken critic of Pawlenty, saying he's not conservative enough. (04/27/2006)
After initially entering the governor's race under the Libertarian Party banner, Minneapolis bar owner Sue Jeffers has decided to challenge incumbent Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the Republican Party nomination. (Midday, 04/26/2006)
Midmorning talks with Gov. Tim Pawlenty about the closing of the Ford plant in St. Paul, the progress of the legislative session, and immigration reform. (Midmorning, 04/18/2006)
To hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Sen. John McCain tell it, 2008 is the last thing on their minds. But the Minnesota governor and the Arizona senator sounded a lot like two guys who wouldn't mind sharing a national ticket. (04/12/2006)
Gov. Pawlenty has called for cracking down on illegal immigration, and although his proposals are unlikely to get through the Legislature intact this session, he could get some political traction from the issue. (04/11/2006)
Shopping center developer Kelly Doran, who put more than $1.6 million into his first shot at political office, quit the race for the DFL gubernatorial nomination Friday. (03/24/2006)
In MPR's ongoing Meet the Candidates series, Gov. Tim Pawlenty makes his case for a second term in office. (Midday, 03/13/2006)
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)
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)
DFL gubernatorial candidate Kelly Doran explains where he stands on issues ranging from health care to gay marriage as part of Midday's ongoing Meet the Candidates series. (Midday, 02/28/2006)