Divided government returns to Minnesota’s Capitol

Published 9:20 am Wednesday, November 5, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — The party’s over for Minnesota Democrats.

After two years of calling the shots in state government, their new reality is one of shared control with Republicans who gained a state House majority.

It was a notable blemish on Tuesday evening, during which Democrats romped in high-profile races for governor and U.S. Senate and protected two congressional incumbents from stiff challenges.

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Republicans will enter next year’s session with at least 70 seats, with the potential for two more in districts where their candidates held narrow leads. It takes 68 seats for a majority.

Re-elected Gov. Mark Dayton and leading House Republican Kurt Daudt spoke of a need to cooperate for the common good. The Senate, run by Democrats, wasn’t on Tuesday’s ballot.