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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.
Polinaut
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A brief informal survey shows many people have no idea how they'll vote on the transportation question on November's ballot. (10/09/2006)
Alan Fine, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 5th District, was charged with domestic violence in 1995 for allegedly assaulting his wife, and he later had his record expunged. Fine reacted angrily to a Star Tribune report about the incident, saying he is innocent. (10/07/2006)
6th District DFL Congressional candidate Patty Wetterling talked to a national radio audience Saturday about child safety and the Mark Foley scandal. (10/07/2006)
Democrat Amy Klobuchar, Republican Mark Kennedy and Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald have all proposed ways to provide more health insurance coverage by controlling the cost of health care. (10/06/2006)
In their first and only post-primary debate outside of the Twin Cities, the two frontrunners and Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson were forced to address the medical research issue and a railroad expansion that both loom large in the state's third-largest city. (10/05/2006)
Three of the legislative seats round Mankato are open in November. That doesn't mean whoever wins will lack political experience. (10/05/2006)
Results of the Reuters/Zogby poll found Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrat Patty Wetterling running neck and neck with just a month left before the election. Meanwhile, the Mark Foley scandal is growing as a campaign issue. (10/04/2006)
Coleen Rowley accused John Kline of "blind loyalty" to the Bush administration. Kline accused Rowley of violating her own call for integrity. (10/04/2006)
An estimated 3,000 people turned out in downtown St. Paul Tuesday night for a "Stand for the Family" rally, organized to increase voter turnout among conservative Christians. Speakers included James Dobson of Focus on the Family and former Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer. (Midday, 10/04/2006)
Minnesota's 1st Congressional District race has heated up. In a part of the state that has voted Republican for years, a Democratic challenger may have a chance. (10/04/2006)
It's not just conservative churches that are trying to get out the vote this fall. Urban church leaders are registering voters in low-turnout precincts in Minneapolis and St. Paul - areas that tend to vote Democrat. (10/03/2006)
Public education is traditionally a top issue for many Minnesota voters, and this year's election is no exception. (10/03/2006)
Familiar names face off in the 8th District race this year. Long-time incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar faces a challenge from Republican Rod Grams, the former TV news anchor who served both in the U.S. House and Senate. (10/02/2006)
A new round of gubernatorial campaign ads takes aim at the candidates' tax policies, but some of the numbers fail to add up. (10/02/2006)
DFL candidate for Senate Amy Klobuchar talks about running for the open seat vacated by Mark Dayton. The campaign for Senate has turned negative in recent days. (Midmorning, 10/02/2006)

Election Wrap-up

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