Wednesday, June 28, 2023
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.
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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Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, is one of only two incumbent members of the Minnesota House facing a primary election challenge this year. He's being challenged because of his support for expanding gambling in the state.
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(09/05/2006)
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(Midday, 09/05/2006)
Minnesota's primary election is just one week away, and the most competitive statewide race has also been the most courteous.
(09/05/2006)
The three major party endorsed candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat held a heated debate on health care, the war in Iraq and tax policy Friday at the Minnesota State Fair.
(09/01/2006)
The three major party-endorsed U.S. Senate candidates participate in a live debate at the Minnesota State Fair.
(Midday, 09/01/2006)
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(09/01/2006)
Minnesota state Sen. Paul Koering says the main reason he's facing a primary challenge next month is because he's gay.
(08/31/2006)
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(08/30/2006)
With a little more than two months before the November election, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has a significant fundraising lead over his opponents. Pawlenty's campaign says the governor has $2 million in the bank, twice as much as his nearest rival, DFLer Mike Hatch.
(08/29/2006)
DFL gubernatorial candidate Becky Lourey took her turn at the Humphrey Institute lectern Wednesday as part of the institute's series of Candidate Forums. Lourey, a state senator from Kerrick, is challenging DFL-endorsed candidate Mike Hatch in the Sept. 12 primary.
(Midday, 08/25/2006)
Midday hosts a live Minnesota State Fair debate between four of the DFL candidates hoping to succeed U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo in the House of Representatives.
(Midday, 08/24/2006)
The DFL candidates in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District are busy campaigning just weeks before primary election day. Four of them will appear at debate at the Minnesota State Fair with the hopes of attracting DFL support.
(08/24/2006)
Sue Jeffers, the Libertarian-turned-Republican challenging Gov. Tim Pawlenty in the September primary election, discussed her vision for smaller government in an Aug. 17 speech at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute.
(Midday, 08/23/2006)